The Assassin, one of Prime Video’s highest-rated and most successful British original crime thrillers, has officially received a major Season 2 update, with development confirmed to be underway at Amazon despite the deal still being finalized and the streaming platform declining official comment. The British crime drama, which debuted on Prime Video in July 2025 to record-breaking success, features a stellar ensemble led by Keeley Hawes (Orphan Black: Echoes) as Julie, a retired professional assassin forced to reunite with her estranged son Edward (Freddie Highmore from Bates Motel and The Good Doctor) as the pair fight for survival on a remote Greek island. Created by Harry and Jack Williams—the acclaimed writing duo behind Netflix’s successful Jamie Dornan thriller The Tourist—The Assassin achieved unprecedented viewership milestones for Prime Video UK, with its debut episode reaching 1.6 million viewers and ranking as the highest-performing British original series premiere of 2025, substantially outperforming comparable titles including The Girlfriend (973,435 viewers), The Rig, and the recent premiere of Harlan Coben’s Lazarus. Directed by multiple acclaimed filmmakers and supported by a stellar international ensemble cast featuring Gina Gershon, Jack Davenport, and Richard Dormer, The Assassin currently holds an 80% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on critical consensus, establishing it as a significant victory for Prime Video’s beleaguered thriller slate that has recently seen cancellations of Countdown and Butterfly. The Season 2 development announcement arrives as welcome validation for Prime Video’s investment in original British programming—a category historically underperforming compared to unscripted content, yet increasingly essential for competing with Netflix, Disney+, and emerging streamers in the prestige television marketplace.
Season 2 Development Update: Details and Status
Development Status: Season 2 officially in the works | Deal Status: Deal still underway (deal not yet finalized) | Prime Video Official Comment: Declined to comment on announcement | Source: Deadline reporting (November 2025) | Significance: Major victory for Prime Video’s thriller slate | Confirmation Timing: Mere months after record-breaking Season 1 premiere
According to Deadline reporting (November 2025), Season 2 of The Assassin is officially in development at Prime Video, though the deal remains unfinalized and Amazon has declined to provide official comment regarding the renewal. This strategic silence reflects typical streaming negotiations—allowing contractual discussions to progress before public announcement—yet the Deadline report confirms development momentum is proceeding despite incomplete financial arrangements.
The development confirmation arrives remarkably quickly after Season 1’s debut, highlighting Prime Video’s confidence in the series’ commercial appeal and critical reception. Industry analysts suggest the swift renewal decision reflects the show’s unprecedented viewership performance for British originals and desperate need to reverse recent cancellation trends.
Series Overview and Premise
Platform: Amazon Prime Video (exclusive) | Premiere Date: July 2025 | Origin Country: British | Episode Count (Season 1): 6 episodes | Genre: Crime thriller, drama | Setting: Remote Greek island | Central Plot: Retired assassin reunites with estranged son, both fighting for survival
The Assassin centers on Julie, a retired professional killer who is forced to reconnect with her estranged son Edward after years of separation. The pair must navigate complex family dynamics while literally fighting for survival on a remote Greek island, where secrets, danger, and moral ambiguity define their interactions.
Cast and Characters
Keeley Hawes as Julie (Retired Professional Assassin): Known from Orphan Black: Echoes, Hawes delivers career-defining performance as the mother-assassin navigating maternal instincts and survival instincts. Her portrayal anchors the series’ emotional complexity.
Freddie Highmore as Edward (Julie’s Son): Fresh from roles in Bates Motel and The Good Doctor, Highmore portrays Julie’s estranged son caught between family loyalty and personal survival. The actor carries significant emotional weight throughout the narrative.
Supporting Ensemble Cast:
– Gina Gershon (American actress, producer)
– Jack Davenport (British actor, known for Smash, Pirates of the Caribbean)
– Richard Dormer (Northern Irish actor)
– Gerald Kyd, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Devon Terrell, David Dencik, Alan Dale
Creative Team: Creators, Directors, and Writers
Creator/Writer Team: Harry and Jack Williams | Previous Collaboration: Netflix’s The Tourist (starring Jamie Dornan) | Career Achievement: The Tourist became Netflix sensation with similar critical/commercial success | Signature Style: Complex character studies, psychological tension, unexpected twists, family drama interwoven with thriller mechanics
Harry and Jack Williams have established themselves as elite screenwriting talent through their work on Netflix’s The Tourist, which similarly featured a mysterious stranger (Jamie Dornan) arriving in a small town, triggering psychological revelation and dramatic consequences. The Williams brothers demonstrate consistent mastery of building intricate plots grounded in compelling character development rather than mere spectacle.
The Assassin showcases their evolved craft—creating intimate family dynamics against dangerous thriller backdrops, prioritizing emotional truth alongside plot momentum, and constructing narratives that reward engaged viewership through layered complexity.
Record-Breaking Viewership and Critical Reception
Season 1 Premiere Viewership: 1.6 million viewers | Ranking Achievement: Highest-performing British original series premiere of 2025 on Prime Video | Competitive Comparison: Substantially outperformed The Girlfriend (973,435 viewers), The Rig, Lazarus | Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80% Certified Fresh (based on 15 professional reviews) | Audience Score: 44% (more negative, though potentially vulnerable to algorithm shifts)
The Assassin achieved unprecedented success for Prime Video British originals, with its debut episode reaching 1.6 million viewers—a substantial achievement for a streaming premiere. This viewership placed it well ahead of comparable recent releases, establishing the series as a genuine ratings success rather than merely a critical darling.
The series maintains an 80% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating professional critical consensus recognition. However, the audience score sits at 44%—a significant critical/audience divergence suggesting some viewers found the narrative unsatisfying despite professional praise for craft and performance quality.
Prime Video’s Thriller Strategy Context
Recent Cancellations: Countdown (cancelled after Season 1) | Butterfly (cancelled after Season 1) | Notable Stars in Cancelled Shows: Jensen Ackles (Countdown), Daniel Dae Kim (Butterfly) | Cancellation Timeline: Both cancelled weeks after Season 1 finales | Cancellation Irony: Both shows trended on Amazon charts despite cancellations
Prime Video has recently struggled to maintain original thriller programming. Countdown and Butterfly—both featuring popular television stars and trending on Amazon’s internal metrics—received cancellation despite audience engagement, highlighting the streaming platform’s inconsistent renewal strategy and financial pressures.
Industry Context: Prime Video relies heavily on established franchises like Reacher for thriller content success, suggesting that original thriller development has become increasingly difficult. The Assassin‘s strong performance and Season 2 renewal represent meaningful corrective action, reversing cancellation momentum and validating original British thriller investment.
Where to Watch and Availability
Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video (exclusive) | Season 1 Availability: All 6 episodes on-demand | Subscription Required: Prime membership or standalone Prime Video subscription | Geographic Availability: Global (UK, US, Australia, and worldwide territories) | Release Format (Season 1): All episodes released simultaneously (binge format)
The Assassin Season 1 is available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, with all six episodes released simultaneously to allow for binge viewing. Prime membership provides access to the series alongside thousands of additional films and television shows, with standalone Prime Video subscriptions available for non-Prime members.
Significance for Prime Video and Streaming Competition
The Assassin Season 2 renewal represents strategic validation for Prime Video’s investment in British original programming—a category historically underperforming compared to unscripted content (Clarkson’s Farm, LOL: Last One Laughing UK consistently outperform scripted series). However, the show’s success suggests emerging audience appetite for prestige British thrillers.
The renewal also signals Prime Video’s determination to reverse negative momentum from recent cancellations, demonstrating commitment to original content when viewership and critical reception justify investment. In competitive streaming marketplace dominated by Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+, original British thriller success becomes increasingly valuable for platform differentiation.
