As cosy season begins, Netflix spy TV series Black Doves should be added to your watchlists ASAP.
Starring Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw (This Is Going To Hurt) and Happy Valley's Sarah Lancashire, this star-studded, action-packed affair is going to be the one to watch this Christmas. In her big return to TV, Keira will play a wronged, vengeful spy, looking to protect her family at all costs while finding out who killed her lover and why.
She even trained in hand-to-hand combat for her role. “It’s been great fun to do all of the fighting,” Keira told Netflix's TUDUM. “I’ve really enjoyed learning all of the different martial arts that I have been taught.”
More than that, the series has also already been renewed for a second season, before the first has even aired. Impressive stuff.
Here's everything else we know about Black Doves.
Black Doves plot
We're getting some Die Hard Christmas vibes from this TV series – but female-fronted, of course – with a twist of London charm and spy thrills.
“Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, Black Doves is a sharp, action-filled, and heartfelt story of friendship and sacrifice,” the plot synopsis for the TV series reads. "It follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy.
“For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for: the Black Doves. When her secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated, her spymaster, the enigmatic Reed (Sarah Lancashire), calls in Helen’s old friend Sam (Ben Whishaw) to keep her safe. Together, Helen and Sam set off on a mission to investigate who killed Jason and why, leading them to uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy linking the murky London underworld to a looming geopolitical crisis.”
Black Doves cast
Joining Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire will be Luther Ford (The Crown), Finn Bennett (True Detective: Night Country), Tracey Ullman (The Tracey Ullman Show), Adeel Akhtar (Fool Me Once) Omari Douglas (Rye Lane, It's A Sin), Andrew Buchan (Carnival Row), Andrew Koji (Warrior), Kathryn Hunter (Andor), Sam Troughton (Mank), Ella Lily Hyland (Fifteen-Love), Adam Silver (The Diplomat), Ken Nwosu (Look the Other Way and Run) Paapa Essiedu (Gangs of London) and Gabrielle Creevy (In My Skin).
Black Doves release date
The series will premiere on 5th December 2024 on Netflix.
Black Doves trailer
The trailer is seriously tense, featuring music from award-winning singer Raye, who covers Nancy Sinatra's Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down). Watch below for a taster of what's to come – Keira looks to be one powerful agent, while Whishaw seems predictably dry in humour and sweet in nature. Let's see what else the festive spy treat has to bring us.
