A world of crime, family secrets, and people who can't escape their past.
When I heard that fan favorite Charlie Hunnam from the legendary Sons of Anarchy would be starring in a new series titled Criminal, my radar immediately perked up!
A few days ago, the teaser trailer dropped—which, of course, you can check out right here on playview.eu—and we'll likely learn even more details before the show debuts in early January. Until then, though, it's worth taking a closer look at the source material behind Amazon Prime Video's new production, as it stems from a fascinating comic with nearly 20 years of history behind it.
Criminal was created by Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips, with its first issue debuting in October 2006 under Icon Comics, an imprint of Marvel Comics. Later on, the series moved over to Image Comics, where its publishing run continued. The duo has built one of the most iconic partnerships in modern crime comics, with Criminal...making it perhaps their most recognizable collaborative creation. We're not talking about a story centered on a single protagonist, but an entire universe of people interconnected through crime, family ties, betrayals, and the choices of past generations.
The initial run consisted of 10 issues, split into the two story arcs Coward and Lawless. Several more runs and standalone stories followed, allowing the Criminal universe to expand significantly over the years. It has snagged multiple Eisner Awards, including Best New Series in 2007, cementing Brubaker and Phillips as one of the genre's most successful creative duos. Although there are no official aggregate figures for total issue sales, its long-standing publishing presence, collected re-editions, and universe expansion show that it is a well-established and hugely acclaimed landmark in the world of comics.
Behind the TV adaptation is, of course, Brubaker himself, serving as creator and showrunner alongside writer Jordan Harper. Directing duties fall to Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, a duo who typically collaborate on their film projects. Together, they’ve helmed films like Half Nelson, Sugar, Mississippi Grind, and of course Captain Marvel, forging a shared cinematic identity that spans from indie cinema to major Hollywood productions. On Criminal, they handle the first four episodes, with the directing lineup also featuring Dee Rees, best known for Mudbound.
Taking on the lead role is Charlie Hunnam, whom I’ve personally associated for years with Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy. Jax remains one of my favorite TV characters, and Hunnam's return to a world where crime, family, and personal relationships are in constant conflict is something that particularly intrigues me. Here, he plays Leo Patterson, a seasoned thief trying to distance himself from the criminal underworld he grew up in.
Alongside him, we have Gus Halper as Ricky Lawless, Luke Evans as Tracy Lawless, Ricky's older brother, Adria Arjona as Greta, and Emilia Clarke as Mallory. Rounding out the cast are Richard Jenkins, John Hawkes, Kadeem Hardison, and Logan Browning, while Michael Mando, Garrett Hedlund, and Patrick J. Adams will also appear in recurring and guest roles. It's a pretty strong cast, featuring actors with a rich background across various film and TV productions.
The story begins with two friends, Leo Patterson and Ricky Lawless, who grew up in a world where crime is practically a family tradition. Leo is trying to leave that life behind, while Ricky seems set on following in the footsteps of his father, a notorious outlaw. A crime tied to their childhood, family secrets buried for decades, and a heist gone wrong bring them face-to-face with a past they can't easily run from.
In the second part of the story, the focus shifts to the Lawless family, particularly Tracy, who chose the military over prison 20 years ago. When his younger brother Ricky gets mixed up with the wrong crowd, Tracy is dragged right back into the world he tried so hard to leave behind. Meanwhile, Greta and Mallory get caught up in this life of crime, each tied to the main players through their own personal histories.
What's interesting is that the first season doesn't attempt to cram the comic's entire universe into a single story. Instead, it's divided into two four-episode parts, Coward and Lawless, which are based on the original work's first two major story arcs. So while the core narrative, characters, and relationships stem from the comic, the TV adaptation takes its own approach script-wise. This isn't a brand-new story that merely borrows the title, but a genuine adaptation bringing Brubaker's specific storylines to television. In fact, Brubaker's own active involvement in the creative process should go a long way toward preserving the identity of the source material.
Criminal will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on January 13, 2027, with the four episodes of Part One: Coward. The second part, Part Two: Lawless, will follow on January 27, also with four episodes. In total, we're getting eight episodes released in two separate batches within the same month.
Personally, beyond Hunnam's presence, I'm especially curious to see how the world Brubaker and Phillips created will be brought to the screen. Crime here isn't just a backdrop for a few heists and shootouts. It's a way of life passed down from generation to generation, impacting relationships and shaping the futures of people who often never even had the chance to choose otherwise
With Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck behind the camera, the comic's creator actively involved in the series, and a strong cast led by Charlie Hunnam, Criminal has already earned its spot on my list of most anticipated releases for 2027.
