‘The Assassin’ Season 2 Adds ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ Star Natalia Tena — First-Look Images Reveal a Gritty New Chapter

Prime Video’s gripping action-drama The Assassin is gearing up for a highly anticipated second season, and the streamer is pulling out all the stops. Not only has the series lured a fan-favorite from both Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, but a fresh batch of first-look images promises a darker, more dangerous turn for the show’s fractured family.

With Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore returning to lead the charge, Season 2 will plunge viewers back into the sun-scorched underworld of Spain, where old wounds fester and new alliances are forged at gunpoint. Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming run.

A Cast Expansion Worthy of the Hype

The biggest headline is the addition of Natalia Tena, best known for playing Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter films and the wildling Osha in Game of Thrones. Tena joins the ensemble as Inspector Cortez, described as “a sharp Spanish detective whose emotional intelligence and steely ambition should not be underestimated.” It’s a role that seems tailor-made for an actress who excels at playing fierce, morally complex women.

But Tena is far from the only new face. The cast list reads like a who’s who of international talent:

• Arnaud Binard (Emily in Paris) as Bastien, a charismatic Frenchman whose path crosses with Julie in unexpected ways.
• Boris Van Severen (Baptiste) as Titus, a desperate and conflicted Belgian man driven by resentment and loss.
• Jacqueline Boatswain (Bridgerton) as Isha, a mysterious figure with ties to the underworld.
• Monic Hendrickx (Penoza), Karl-El Santos (Stags), Mehdi Regragui (La Unidad Kabul), Casimiro Aguza (Sin Límites), Tony Corvillo (Nowhere, Mano de Hierro), Amin Hamada (The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon) and Lolo Herrero (Return to Las Sabinas) round out the expanded roster.

This multicultural ensemble reflects the show’s sprawling European setting, which has become a hallmark of the series.

Back to the Grind: Returning Cast and Season 1 Recap

At the heart of The Assassin is the complicated relationship between Julie Green (Keeley Hawes) and her estranged son Eddie (Freddie Highmore). Season 1 introduced us to Julie as a former assassin living a quiet life on a picturesque Greek island, only for Eddie to show up demanding answers about his paternity. The reveal that Julie had never truly left her lethal past behind set off a chain of violent events that ended with mother and son barely surviving a disastrous trip to Northern Europe.

Returning alongside Hawes and Highmore are Shalom Brune-Franklin as Kayla, Eddie’s fiancée, and Devon Terrell as Ezra. Season 2 picks up after the fallout from that trip, with Eddie and Julie now estranged once again. The official synopsis teases: “Julie’s days as an assassin are far from behind her as she has slipped back to her old ways, whilst navigating something just as perilous… the dating scene. When Edward’s honeymoon with Kayla doesn’t go quite as planned, he must reunite with Julie to take on Spain’s corrupt underworld, but can they survive the job and mend the rift that tore them apart?”

Why This Season Matters More Than Ever

For fans of the genre, The Assassin occupies a sweet spot between high-octane action and deeply personal drama. The show’s production company, Two Brothers Pictures — the same outfit behind the award-winning Fleabag — brings a sharp, character-driven sensibility to the assassin archetype. Unlike many spy thrillers that rely purely on plot mechanics, this series digs into the emotional wreckage left by a life of violence.

The addition of Natalia Tena only amplifies that depth. Her Inspector Cortez is positioned as a foil to Julie — a detective with a keen emotional intelligence, suggesting that Season 2 may explore the blurred lines between hunter and hunted. Tena’s casting also taps into a deep well of nostalgia for both Harry Potter and Game of Thrones fans, a strategic move that could widen the show’s audience.

First-Look Images: A Grittier, Sun-Drenched Noir

The newly released images from Prime Video show Hawes in her element — wary, ready to strike, and bathed in the harsh Mediterranean light. Other stills capture Highmore looking visibly torn between his mother’s world and his own fragile new marriage, while Tena’s Inspector Cortez is shown interrogating a suspect with a cold, penetrating gaze. The visual palette leans heavily into warm tones contrasted with shadowy interiors, echoing the moral ambiguities of the story.

Industry Context: The Assassin Boom and Streaming Trends

Prime Video’s investment in The Assassin arrives at a time when the streaming wars are intensifying. Since 2020, the gap between seasons of popular TV shows has nearly doubled, according to recent industry reports. Shows that deliver tight, bingeable seasons — like The Assassin — are increasingly valuable to platforms fighting to retain subscribers. The series also benefits from the enduring popularity of “retired assassin” narratives, a subgenre that includes hits like The Americans, Killing Eve, and Hanna.

Keeley Hawes, a veteran of British drama (Bodyguard, Line of Duty, The Durrells), brings a gravitas that elevates the material beyond typical action fare. Freddie Highmore, beloved for his roles in Bates Motel and The Good Doctor, continues to prove his range as the conflicted Eddie. Their on-screen chemistry — fraught with tension, love, and a shared history of violence — remains the show’s emotional anchor.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Julie and Eddie?

With Season 2 set in Spain’s corrupt underworld, audiences can expect a fresh infusion of local color and high-stakes intrigue. The promise of a mother-son reunion under extreme duress, balanced with Julie’s reluctant foray into dating, adds a layer of dark comedy to the proceedings. If the first season was about discovery, the second season appears to be about choice — whether to embrace the monster within or fight for redemption.

As the entertainment industry continues to chase the next big franchise, The Assassin proves that sometimes the most compelling stories are the ones that hit close to home — even if home is a bullet-riddled villa on a Greek island.