The Assassin: ‘Challenging’ detail behind gripping new show

“Literally spinning upside down”: BAFTA-nominated actress Keeley Hawes has lifted the lid on her action-packed new series.

IN LONDON

There’s not many genres that pop up on screen as often as the world of hired killers.

But in Stan’s original new series, The Assassin, from creators Harry and Jack Williams (the executive-producing duo behind Fleabag), there’s an intriguing point of difference at its heart: the messy and strained relationship between a retired hitwoman and her son.

Living on a remote Greek island, Julie – played by BAFTA-nominated actress Keeley Hawes, who previously starred in Line of Duty, Bodyguard and Miss Austen – has an awkward reunion with her estranged adult son, Edward (Freddie Highmore of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Good Doctor) who is visiting from England.

Amid his increasing frustration at being stonewalled about his paternity, Edward suddenly finds himself on the run with his emotionally distant mother when her dangerous past catches up with her.

Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore star in Stan's gripping new series, The Assassin. Picture: Supplied

The entire six-part series really hinges on the on-screen dynamic between the pair, because the secret sauce, as it were, is the fact that amid some fairly spectacular violence and gory imagery, there’s genuine comedy.

Both Hawes and Highmore knew from the start they had to nail that tone.

“We met over Zoom, just to say hello, we had a day going through the scripts … and then we had a coffee - and we just got along so well,” Hawes, 49, told news.com.au.

“I think what made it so easy was that [our rapport] was just there innately, and we just understood what the other was trying to do,” Highmore, 33, agreed.

“I think starting from that point means you can be even more free to try new things, to try and seek out different dynamics in there and try and find different nuances.”

Highmore (as Edward) has a strained relationship with his on-screen mum. Picture: Supplied

Julie (Hawes) lands herself and her son in danger when her past catches up with her. Picture: Supplied

The banter between the pair unexpectedly provides comic relief during tense moments, but without managing to “undercut” the atmosphere too much.

“There’s something very British about the sense of humour, and Australian too, in that it’s a bit more underplayed and isn’t leaning into the broadness as much … It’s the sly little comments that get stuck in there, but don’t take you out of the high stakes that are going on around them,” Highmore said.

Hawes has plenty of action scenes in the series. Picture: Supplied

Referring to the first screening of the series in London earlier this month, Hawes admitted she was relieved to hear “lots of big laughs”.

“It’s always a nice surprise when things work out!” she said.

The actress is no stranger to on-screen action, but her physicality was really put to the test in The Assassin, where she took on a lot of her character’s many, many stunts.

It was “quite challenging” at times, she explained, but after so many years in the industry, it was a welcome new test of her skills.

“[I was] looked after by such brilliant people and really, they’re the ones that make you look good,” Hawes explained, crediting the dramatic on-screen result to the stunt team and post-production.

”There’s a scene in the trailer where I sort of get this guy, and I kind of throw him over into the side of a car and then I shoot him.

“But I’m standing there cool as a cucumber, I haven’t broken a sweat, and this man is literally spinning himself upside down and throwing himself into a car and I’m doing very little.”

The Assassin is available to stream in Australia exclusively on Stan from July 25.

Originally published as The Assassin: ‘Challenging’ detail behind gripping new show