The Assassin cast in full as Line of Duty and Riverdale stars join thriller
The Assassin is a drama that follows Julie, a woman with a dark past who is forced to confront old demons when she is reunited with her son, Edward
Prime Video's latest offering, 'The Assassin', is creating quite the buzz with its impressive ensemble cast. The drama delves into the complex dynamics between a mother and her son as they navigate their strained relationship amidst life-threatening challenges.
As Julie's history starts to resurface, threatening to expose her former life's secrets, she and her son must band together in a desperate bid for survival. Julie star Keeley Hawes opened up about her own parenting experiences ahead of the show.
The show's creators, Harry and Jack Williams, opened up about the core of Julie and Edward's (Freddie Highmore) fraught bond: "We wanted to get a sense early on that there was something unresolved in this relationship, something that needed fixing, and that's the story of this series."
They added: "They both come into it and are awkward with each other, and there's a history and coldness, and they haven't quite connected."
For those eager to know more about the cast, here's the lowdown.
Julie - Keeley Hawes
Taking on the role of Julie is Keeley Hawes, who viewers might recognise from her gripping performances in 'Line of Duty' as DI Lindsay Denton or as Home Secretary Julia Montague in the BBC hit 'Bodyguard'.
Off-screen, Hawes tied the knot with her 'Spooks' co-star Matthew Macfadyen in 2004, and the couple share two children. She also has another son from her previous marriage to DJ Spencer McCallum in 2001.
Edward - Freddie Highmore
Stepping into the shoes of Edward is Freddie Highmore, celebrated for his roles in 'Bates Motel', 'The Good Doctor', and 'Finding Neverland'.
In a personal revelation on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' in September 2021, Highmore disclosed that he had recently wed, though he kept the identity of his wife under wraps.
He joyfully remarked: "I'm as happy as a Brit can be and I'm married to a very wonderful woman now, so yes I feel very happy."
Discussing his experience working with Hawes on their new project, he shared: "Keeley is brilliant and was one of the main reasons that I wanted to be part of this project."
He praised her talent, saying: "She is so talented and such a brilliant actor, whilst also being a lovely person with the best attitude."
He added: "We both have a similar sense of humour too, and hopefully that will translate into the series. We've certainly bonded and I can't imagine anyone better to try and nail that tone down with than her."
Marie - Gina Gershon
Gina Gershon boasts an impressive resume with roles in major films like P.S. I Love You and House of Versace, as well as TV appearances in Riverdale and New Amsterdam.
Her aspirations were always set on acting, although she initially started out in music and dance.
The celebrity was romantically linked with Belgian entrepreneur and ex-footballer Robert Dekeyser from 2015 until 2018.
Luka - Gerald Kyd
Portrayed by Gerald Kyd, who has a rich heritage being half-Greek and half-Scottish, he's recognised for his role as Sean Maddox in Casualty.
Kyd is also celebrated for his performances in Malory Towers, The Split, and The Defender.
Reflecting on his heritage and career, he stated: "I have a Greek background, my grandparents were from Greece, and in twenty-five years as an actor, I've only been asked to play a Greek part twice.
"So, it was very exciting to get this part, and to read the scripts, which are just incredible. They're fast-paced, exciting, thrilling, and funny as well. I was desperate to be part of it."
Kayla - Shalom Brune-Franklin
Kayla is portrayed by Shalom Brune-Franklin, a 30 year old British-Australian actress celebrated for her roles in Our Girl and The State.
Audiences might also recognise her as Aoife from the Australian series Doctor Doctor, or her appearance in The Tourist.
Ezra - Devon Terrell
Ezra is brought to life by Devon Terrell, who viewers may remember as Arthur from the Netflix original series Cursed.
Discussing his experience working with the ensemble cast on this new venture, he expressed: "Everything enticed me. The opportunity to work on such brilliant writing with such incredible actors, and to have a chance to work with Shalom.
"We were friends before, but I think she's an amazing actress, and I knew the character arcs were so developed that we could really play. Working on material like this is an actor's dream."
The Assassin is on Prime Video.