Netflix Announces 'Black Doves' Season 2 Ahead of Holiday-Timed Premiere
Keira Knightly as Helen Webb in Black Doves
Stefania Rosini/Netflix
Black Doves will fly before the end of 2024; Netflix's producers confirmed the news after giving the highly-anticipated spy thriller series a debut over on the TV side of the Edinburgh Film Festival. The six-part series stars Keira Knightley (Pride & Prejudice) and Ben Whishaw (This Is Going to Hurt) as an unlikely crime-solving duo, one of whom is an assassin, and the other of which is a spy. Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley) rounds out the A-list trio, making this Netflix's highest-profile British show since Bridgerton and clearly a favorite for Awards season, with a release date timed to maximize Golden Globe and SAG-AFTRA Award nominations.
Knightley plays undercover spy Helen Webb, posing as a run-of-the-mill suburban wife and mother... when she isn't being attacked. Whishaw is her BFF, Sam Young, an assassin who is down on his luck and happy to oblige in helping Helen when she finds herself in a sticky situation. Lancashire plays Reed, a "spy mistress" who recruited Helen to the Black Doves.
With the show coming towards the end of the year, Netflix is leaning into the holiday timing, calling the show a series for "anyone who knows that Die Hard is definitely a holiday movie." Apparently, this will be a TV gift that brings "British wits, knife fights, and holiday (or anti-holiday?) cheer." Despite referring to Black Doves as a "Christmas series," it should be noted Netflix is not confirming the release date as December 25. Considering some networks start playing Christmas movies in early October, like the chaos gremlins they are, a "Christmas series" could realistically debut anytime after November 1, 2024.
Adeel Akhtar, Finn Bennett, Luther Ford, and Tracey Ullman join Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire in 'Black Doves' Season 1
Netflix
Knightley, Whishaw, and Lancashire lead a top-tier ensemble, the latest additions to which include Luther Ford (The Crown), Adeel Akhtar (Sherwood), Finn Bennett (Domina), and Tracey Ullman (Howard's End). Cast announced previously include Andrew Buchan (Broadchurch), Andrew Koji (Peaky Blinders), Kathryn Hunter (Macbeth), Sam Troughton (The Outlaws), Ella Lily Hyland (Fifteen-Love), Adam Silver (The Diplomat), Ken Nwosu (The Winter King), Gabrielle Creevy (In My Skin), and Omari Douglas (Rye Lane).
Joe Barton (The Lazarus Project) created and wrote the six-episode series. Directors Alex Gabassi and Lisa Gunning split helming duties. Barton and Knightley executive produce with Jane Featherstone and Chris Fry for SISTER; Harry Munday serves as producer.
Black Doves Season 1 is expected out during the 2024 holidays, if not actually Christmas Day or Christmas Eve.
