Emilia Clarke, known for playing Daenerys on Game of Thrones, has a new role that’s very different. She’ll star in Criminal, an Amazon crime drama based on graphic novels. Clarke plays Mallory, an armed robber as quick with a gun as she is smart.
Mallory is part of a crew that pulls off heists. She’s in a Bonnie and Clyde-type relationship with another crew member, Ricky, played by Gus Halper. Mallory lives dangerously between jobs and has secrets that could get the whole crew into trouble.
The show also stars some big names like Charlie Hunnam, Richard Jenkins and John Hawkes. With this talented group of actors, Criminal promises to bring the graphic novels’ complex world of interconnected crimes to life.
Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden will direct the first four episodes. The stories’ creator, Ed Brubaker, is helping to run the show too. He and the illustrator, Sean Phillips, want to explore crime tropes in a realistic way, not just the typical Hollywood versions.
This gritty approach might set Criminal apart from other streaming shows. Amazon and Legendary Television are producing it for Amazon Prime Video. While no release date yet, the cast and creative team have fans excited about Criminal.
Clarke does more serious roles now between big franchise parts. She was recently in a Marvel show and romantic comedies. Criminal looks to be another change for her as she plays a dangerous robber in a passionate relationship.
As production rolls on, Criminal looks to be a hit for Amazon especially as their other popular show The Boys wraps up. With top talent in front of and behind the camera, Criminal seems set to be the next must-watch crime drama.
