Preview – The Iris Affair: Everything We Know About Sky’s New Thriller
Sky is gearing up to launch its latest original thriller, The Iris Affair, starring Niamh Algar and Tom Hollander.
Sky is gearing up to launch its latest original thriller, The Iris Affair (formerly titled Iris), a gripping sun-soaked chase series created, written, and showrun by Neil Cross, the brilliant mind behind the Golden Globe-winning drama Luther. This highly anticipated eight-part thriller stars Niamh Algar (Mary & George, The Virtues) as the enigmatic Iris Nixon and Emmy-nominated Tom Hollander (The White Lotus, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans) as the charismatic entrepreneur Cameron Beck.
Directed by acclaimed helmers Terry McDonough (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) and Sarah O’Gorman (A Gentleman in Moscow, The Witcher), The Iris Affair promises a tense, cinematic experience as two genius adversaries engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse across the breathtaking landscapes of Italy.
Plot Overview: A High-Stakes Game of Cat and Mouse
The story kicks off when Iris Nixon (Algar), an enigmatic puzzle solver, cracks a series of complex online riddles that lead her to a piazza in Florence. There, she meets Cameron Beck (Hollander), a captivating entrepreneur who invites her to join his quest to unlock a top-secret, powerful technology. Intrigued, Iris accepts—but soon uncovers the technology’s dangerous potential. In a bold move, she steals the journal containing its activation sequence and disappears.
What ensues is a relentless pursuit across Italy—from a secluded cabin in Sardinia to the vibrant streets of Rome—as Cameron races to track down Iris. The chase is fraught with tension, where trust is scarce and failure could mean catastrophic consequences.
Star-Studded Cast and Crew
Alongside Algar and Hollander, the series features an impressive supporting cast including Kristofer Hivju (Game of Thrones, Force Majeure), Harry Lloyd (Arcane, Marcella), Meréana Tomlinson (The Trials), Sacha Dhawan (The Great, Doctor Who), Maya Sansa (Good Morning, Night), Peter Sullivan (Poldark), Debi Mazar (Younger), Marco Leonardi (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso), Angela Bruce (Doctor Who), and Lorenzo De Moor (A Simple Favor 2).
Production Details
The Iris Affair is a co-production between Sky Studios and Fremantle, with Wildside (a Fremantle company) providing production services in Italy. Executive Producers include Neil Cross, Terry McDonough, Tim Bricknell (The Power), Adrian Sturges (Sky Studios), and Jenni Sherwood and Dante Di Loreto (Fremantle). The writing team features Susan E. Connolly and Ian Scott McCullough.
When and Where to Watch
The series will debut later this year on Sky and the streaming platform NOW across the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Fremantle is managing international sales, setting the stage for The Iris Affair to reach a global audience.
With its intense storyline, stunning Italian locales, and powerhouse cast, The Iris Affair is shaping up to be one of Sky’s most thrilling new offerings. Stay tuned for more updates as the release date approaches!
Words: Simon Baines