A Dark New Chapter: Freddie Highmore’s Triumphant TV Return in ‘The Assassin’ th01
After years of captivating audiences as the empathetic Dr. Shaun Murphy in The Good Doctor, Freddie Highmore is stepping into a darker, more enigmatic role with his highly anticipated new series, The Assassin. Premiering this summer on Prime Video, the six-part crime thriller marks a daring reinvention for the British actor, who has long been admired for his ability to bring emotional depth and nuance to every character he portrays.
In The Assassin, Highmore stars as Edward, the estranged son of a former professional killer, played by Keeley Hawes. When Edward’s quiet life is upended by a violent incident that pulls him back into his mother’s shadowy past, he must confront secrets that challenge everything he thought he knew about his family — and himself. Set against the picturesque yet perilous backdrop of southern Europe, the series blends suspense, family drama, and moral ambiguity in a story that promises to keep audiences guessing until the very end.
For Highmore, this project represents more than just another acting role — it’s an evolution. After wrapping The Good Doctor, which ran for seven successful seasons, he was deliberate in choosing something tonally different. “I didn’t want to play it safe,” Highmore said in a recent interview. “I wanted to explore a world where right and wrong blur, where the lines between love and violence are not as clear.”
That complexity is exactly what attracted acclaimed director Guy Burt, known for his work on Alex Rider and The Borgias, to cast Highmore in the role. Burt described the actor as “an extraordinary talent capable of portraying vulnerability and menace within the same breath.” Early footage shown to critics suggests The Assassin could be one of Highmore’s most transformative performances to date.
Filmed across multiple European locations, including Greece and Spain, the series is also visually stunning. Its sweeping cinematography and atmospheric tone have drawn comparisons to The Night Manager and Killing Eve, blending espionage with emotional storytelling. According to insiders, Prime Video sees The Assassin as a potential flagship series for international audiences, building on the global appeal that Highmore already commands.
Beyond his acting, Highmore also serves as an executive producer on the series — a role that underscores his growing influence behind the camera. Having previously directed and written for The Good Doctor, the actor continues to expand his creative footprint in ways that position him as both performer and storyteller.