The Iris Affair, the latest gripping drama from acclaimed screenwriter Neil Cross, is set to hit Sky screens in the near future.
Cross, the mastermind behind Luther, has assembled a stellar cast of British talent for his new project, which will transport viewers to the sun-drenched Italian coast for a thrilling race against time.
Combining pulse-pounding action with thought-provoking discussions about artificial intelligence and the future of humanity, this high-stakes existential thriller is one not to be missed.
But who are the stars of the series, what's the plot, and when can audiences finally tune in?
Let's delve into everything we know so far about Sky's upcoming release, reports the Mirror.
Who is in the cast of The Iris Affair? The Iris Affair boasts two phenomenal leads that fans will recognise from both the big and small screen.
Irish actress Niamh Algar takes centre stage as the eponymous Iris Nixon, a fugitive genius on the lam in Italy.
Hot on her heels is Cameron Beck (portrayed by Tom Hollander), a wealthy investor hell-bent on obtaining an indecipherable code that Iris holds.
Viewers may remember Algar from the ITV drama Playing Nice, which aired in January this year, as well as last year's historical miniseries Mary and George. Her other credits include Culprits, Malpractice and Suspects, along with films such as The Wonder, Wrath of Man and Censor.
Meanwhile, Hollander has featured in numerous legendary British productions, from Pride and Prejudice to In the Loop and About Time. He's also recognised for his role as Lord Cutler Beckett in the Pirates of the Caribbean series and featured in The White Lotus' second season.
Additional familiar faces include Game of Thrones' Kristofer Hivju as Jensen Lind, Prime Target's Harry Lloyd as Hugo Pym and Doctor Who's Sacha Dhawan as Alfie.
The supporting cast includes:
- Meréana Tomlinson as Joy
- Maya Sansa as Nico
- Peter Sullivan
- Debi Mazar
- Marco Leonardi as Bruni
- Angela Bruce as Meski
- Lorenzo De Moor as Teo
- Alessia Yoko Fontana as Ako Nakamura
- Amina Zia as Dia Ramachandran
- Adrian Paul Jeyasingham as Manu Chopra
- Simon Rizzoni as Claude Baptiste
- Christoph Hülsen as Ingo Hauser
- Julia Messina as Akim
- Manuel Soro as Officer Rossi
What is The Iris Affair about? Precise storyline details remain under wraps until the series debut, but the central storyline will revolve around the psychological battle between Iris and Cameron.
A teaser shows that Iris was recruited by Cameron for her exceptional intellect to decipher a code that will activate a sophisticated machine, which could "alter the course of humanity".
Nevertheless, she concludes that's far too dangerous a gamble and goes into hiding with the cipher in Italy, triggering a pursuit to recover the key to accessing the machine's mysteries by whatever means required.
Sky's description for the drama states: "The Iris Affair is a stunning new thriller from the creator of Luther, starring Niamh Algar and Tom Hollander. Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Italy's stunning coastline and ancient cities, The Iris Affair will take you on a truly unforgettable ride.
"When Iris, a reclusive genius, is hired by Cameron to break a seemingly unbreakable code, she soon learns of the terrible dangers it can lead to. Fearing for her life (and the fate of the world) she steals the code and goes on the run across Italy.
"Cameron races to find her as his wealthy (and dangerous) investors start to close in on him, demanding answers. With both of their lives on the line, can she break the impossible code before her time runs out?"
When will The Iris Affair be released? Sky and NOW viewers are in for a treat as there are merely days remaining before The Iris Affair arrives on television.
The thrilling new series will debut next Thursday, 16th October.
There's additional cause for excitement, as a bumper four episodes will launch simultaneously, meaning viewers can immediately dive into half of the eight-part thriller.
Fresh instalments will subsequently broadcast weekly on Thursdays, wrapping up with what promises to be a spectacular finale on 13th November.
The Iris Affair premieres Thursday, 16th October on Sky and NOW.
