The Iris Affair cast, plot and release date as Luther creator's next thriller hits screens

The Iris Affair is the latest must-watch drama from screenwriter Neil Cross and it’s coming to Sky customers very soon.

Cross, the creator of Luther, has amassed a cast of top talent from the UK for his latest venture, which will take fans to the sun-soaked locale of the Italian coast where a gripping race against the clock takes place.

Blending heart-stopping action with timely conversations around artificial intelligence and humanity’s future, this high-stakes, existential thriller is not one to miss.

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But who is in the cast of the series, what’s it all about and when will viewers finally be able to watch it?

Let’s take a closer look at everything we know about Sky’s latest release.

Who is in the cast of The Iris Affair?

The Iris Affair is led by two incredible stars fans will recognise from film and TV.

Irish actress Niamh Algar is at the front and centre as the titular Iris Nixon, a fugitive woman with a brilliant mind on the run in Italy.

Trailing her every move is Cameron Beck (played by Tom Hollander), a wealthy investor desperate to get his hands on an unbreakable code in Iris’ possession.

Viewers will recognise Algar from the ITV drama Playing Nice from January this year, as well as last year’s historical miniseries Mary & George. She has also appeared in Culprits, Malpractice and Suspects, as well as the films The Wonder, Wrath of Man and Censor.

Meanwhile, Hollander has appeared in several iconic British films, from Pride & Prejudice to In the Loop and About Time. He’s also known for portraying Lord Cutler Beckett in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and appeared in the second season of The White Lotus.

Other recognisable names include Game of Thrones’ Kristofer Hivju as Jensen Lind, Prime Target’s Harry Lloyd as Hugo Pym and Doctor Who’s Sacha Dhawan as Alfie.

The supporting cast includes:

• Meréana Tomlinson as Joy
• Maya Sansa as Nico
• Peter Sullivan
• Debi Mazar
• Marco Leonardi as Bruni
• Angela Bruce as Meski
• Lorenzo De Moor as Teo
• Alessia Yoko Fontana as Ako Nakamura
• Amina Zia as Dia Ramachandran
• Adrian Paul Jeyasingham as Manu Chopra
• Simon Rizzoni as Claude Baptiste
• Christoph Hülsen as Ingo Hauser
• Julia Messina as Akim
• Manuel Soro as Officer Rossi

What is The Iris Affair about?

Specific plot details are being kept a mystery until the series premiere, but the main focus of the series will be the cat-and-mouse game between Iris and Cameron.

A trailer reveals that Iris was hired by Cameron for her brilliant mind to crack a code that will wake an advanced machine, which could “alter the course of humanity”.

However, she decides that’s too big a risk to take and hides out with the cipher in Italy, sparking a manhunt to retrieve the key to unlocking the machine’s secrets by any means necessary.

Sky’s synopsis for the drama reads: “The Iris Affair is a stunning new thriller from the creator of Luther, starring Niamh Algar and Tom Hollander. Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Italy’s stunning coastline and ancient cities, The Iris Affair will take you on a truly unforgettable ride.

“When Iris, a reclusive genius, is hired by Cameron to break a seemingly unbreakable code, she soon learns of the terrible dangers it can lead to. Fearing for her life (and the fate of the world) she steals the code and goes on the run across Italy.

“Cameron races to find her as his wealthy (and dangerous) investors start to close in on him, demanding answers. With both of their lives on the line, can she break the impossible code before her time runs out?”

When will The Iris Affair be released?

Sky and NOW subscribers are in luck as there are just a few more days to wait before The Iris Affair hits screens.

The explosive new drama will be premiering next Thursday, 16th October.

There’s another reason to celebrate, as a generous four episodes will be dropping all at once, meaning half of the eight-episode drama will be available for fans to tuck into immediately.

New episodes will then air weekly on Thursdays, concluding with an undoubtedly jaw-dropping finale on 13th November.

The Iris Affair premieres Thursday, 16th October on Sky and NOW.