Netflix viewers counting down to see ‘queen of period dramas kick butt’ in new spy thriller

Netflix fans have declared they ‘can’t wait’ to see Keira Knightley return to screens as a professional spy.

The six-part spy thriller Black Doves was written by Joe Barton (Giri/Haji, The Lazarus Project) and is being billed by the streaming service as ‘an early Christmas gift’.

Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, the series follows Helen Webb (Keira), a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother who is also a professional spy.

After a decade of passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for – the Black Doves – Helen’s secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated.

Following this shocking turn of events, her spymaster, the enigmatic Reed (Sarah Lancashire), calls in Helen’s old friend Sam (Ben Whishaw), an assassin, to keep her safe.

The pair then 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’.

The trailer for the series was released this week and teases the high-intensity story of twists and turns viewers can expect.

It begins with Keira’s character Helen being informed that her lover has been murdered and she may have ‘compromised herself’ as scenes of her in intimate moments with him are shown.

She is then faced with gunmen storming her house but manages to fight back before being covered in blood as Sam arrives and shoots one of the attacker.

Hellbent on enacting her revenge, as well as protecting her family, Helen and Sam do whatever it takes to take on those trying to stop them from discovering the truth.

She is then seen telling an unseen person that if they try and stop her, she will ‘kill you myself’.

After tuning into the trailer, many praised what they’d seen.

‘Finally the queen of period dramas in a modern day story as a spy,’ tv_movie.edits92 commented on YouTube.

‘Sooo good to see her do action and kick some butt!’ Trusha_tungare shared.

‘James Bond 007 and John Wick combined… I’ll be watching this,’ ethancardinal1876 added.

Shots released from Netflix last week also showed a blood-splattered Keira in a car alongside a sombre-looking Ben, while Happy Valley star Sarah has chopped her blonde locks into a tight bob for the fierce role.

It also looks to be a Christmassy London film – with a heart-pumping thriller twist, of course – as Keira is seen looking over the Thames as snow falls all around.

Netflix teased the film as starring the three actors ‘as you’ve never seen them before’.

It’s safe to say, fans are buzzing with the tense teaser and electric cast, as @BorkorElse wrote: ‘Keira, Ben & Sarah. It’s going to be epic.’

‘Cant wait for it to come out,’ wrote @maxtheartist_ while a suspected Happy Valley fan archiepops wrote on Instagram: ‘Sarah Lancashire! I don’t even care what it’s about!’

This comes after Sarah bagged a best leading actress Bafta for her portrayal of no-nonsense Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the swansong of Sally Wainwright’s Yorkshire-set thriller, Happy Valley.

Fans were in bits after the final episode aired on BBC One in February last year, leaving a big old Sarah Lancashire gap in many cop drama-loving hearts.

Let’s hope this can fill it… Black Doves has already been greenlit for a second season.

Black Doves is streaming from December 5 on Netflix.

This article was originally published on October 15.

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