Alex Rider (TV series)

Alex Rider
Genre	Action Spy thriller
Created by	Guy Burt
Based on	Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz
Written by	Guy Burt
Directed by	Andreas Prochaska Christopher Smith Rebecca Gatward Jon Jones
Starring	Otto Farrant Stephen Dillane Vicky McClure Andrew Buchan Brenock O'Connor Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo Liam Garrigan Ace Bhatti Thomas Levin Haluk Bilginer Howard Charles Nyasha Hatendi Ana Ularu Marli Siu Toby Stephens Rakie Ayola Charithra Chandran
Opening theme	"The World Is Mine" by Samm Henshaw
Composer	Raffertie
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	16
Production
Executive producers	Eve Gutierrez Jill Green Anthony Horowitz Guy Burt Paula Cuddy Nicole Finnan Wayne Garvie
Producers	Mat Chaplin
Production locations	London, England Prahova County, Romania
Cinematography	Ben Wheeler
Editors	Richard Smither Ben Whitehead
Running time	43–45 minutes
Production companies	Eleventh Hour Films Sony Pictures Television
Distributor	Sony Pictures Television
Release
Original network	Amazon Prime Video (season 1) IMDb TV (season 2)
Original release	4 June 2020 (2020-06-04) – present (present)
External links
Website
Production website

Alex Rider (stylized as △LEX RIDER) is a British spy thriller television programme based on the novel series of the same name by Anthony Horowitz. Adapted by Guy Burt, it stars Otto Farrant as the eponymous character, who is recruited by a subdivision of MI6 as a teenage spy to infiltrate places that others are unable to. The show is jointly produced by Eleventh Hour Films and Sony Pictures Television, and is the second screen adaptation of the novels, following the 2006 feature film version of the first novel, Stormbreaker.

The eight-episode first season, based on Point Blanc, premiered on the Amazon Prime Video streaming service in the United Kingdom on 4 June 2020. The series received generally positive reviews, with critics praising Farrant's lead performance. In November 2020, the series was renewed for a second season, adapting the book Eagle Strike. The second season premiered on 3 December 2021. The show is available on Amazon Prime Video or Amazon's IMDb TV, depending on the country.

Premise[]

London teenager Alex Rider is recruited by the Department of Special Operations, a subdivision of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), to infiltrate a controversial corrective academy for the wayward offspring of the ultra-rich.^[1]

Cast and characters[]

Main[]

• Otto Farrant as Alex Rider,^[2] a highly skilled teenager who is recruited by the Department of Special Operations.
• Stephen Dillane as Alan Blunt,^[2] the shrewd head of the Department of Special Operations.
• Vicky McClure as Mrs Jones,^[2] deputy head of the Department of Special Operations and Alex's handler.
• Andrew Buchan as Ian Rider (season 1),^[2] an agent of the Department of Special Operations and Alex's uncle.
• Brenock O'Connor as Tom Harris,^[2] Alex's best friend.
• Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo as Jack Starbright,^[2] a UCL graduate from America, who is Alex's primary carer and later Legal Guardian
• Liam Garrigan as Martin Wilby (season 1), an agent of the Department of Special Operations and a colleague of Ian.
• Ace Bhatti as John Crawley,^[2] chief of staff of the Department of Special Operations.
• Thomas Levin as Yassen Gregorovitch, a mysterious assassin.
• Haluk Bilginer as Dr Hugo Greif (season 1),^[2] director of Point Blanc, a mysterious academy.
• Howard Charles as Wolf (season 1), the leader of a Special Air Service (SAS) squad.
• Nyasha Hatendi as Smithers,^[2] the quartermaster of the Department of Special Operations.
• Ana Ularu as Eva Stellenbosch (season 1), Dean of Students at Point Blanc.
• Marli Siu as Kyra Vashenko-Chao,^[2] a hacker from Singapore and a student at Point Blanc who keeps to herself. Her character is original to the series.
• Toby Stephens as Damian Cray (season 2),^[3] an energetic tech billionaire who is poised to launch a new version of his best-selling computer game, Feathered Serpent.
• Rakie Ayola as Jo Bryne (season 2),^[3] a tough new Deputy Director of the CIA.
• Charithra Chandran as Sabina Pleasance (season 2),^[3] a smart and confident teen whose journalist father is writing a book on Damian Cray.

Recurring[]

• George Sear as Parker Roscoe, an American graduate of Point Blanc and the heir to a media empire.
• Andrew Buzzeo as Mr Boswell, Alex and Tom's English teacher.
• Macy Nyman as Steph, a student at Alex's school who is attracted to Tom.
• Shalisha James-Davis as Ayisha, a popular student at Alex's school who has a mutual attraction with him.
• Ky Discala as Eagle, the sniper in Wolf's squad.
• Rebecca Scroggs as Snake, a member of Wolf's squad.
• Ben Peel as Fox, a member of Wolf's squad.
• Talitha Wing as Sasha,^[2] a model student at Point Blanc who is attracted to Alex.
• Nathan Clarke as Arrash,^[2] a model student at Point Blanc.
• Katrin Vankova as Laura,^[2] a student at Point Blanc who befriends Alex.
• Earl Cave as James,^[2] the Australian^[4] heir to an arms industry corporation and a student at Point Blanc who befriends Alex.

Guest[]

• Steven Brand as Michael Roscoe, the CEO of Roscorp Media and Parker's father.
• Llewella Gideon as Miss Baker, a teacher at Alex's school.
• Simon Shepherd as Sir David Friend, the owner of the Friend Foundation, a multi-billion pound food production and distribution empire.
• Josh Herdman as Stan, a barber.
• Lucy Akhurst as Lady Caroline Friend, Sir David's wife.
• Alana Boden as Fiona Friend, Sir David and Lady Caroline's spoilt daughter.
• Ralph Prosser as Rafe, a friend of Fiona.
• Simon Paisley Day as Dr Baxter, the physician and physical education teacher at Point Blanc.
• James Gracie as Langham, Parker's personal assistant.
• Ali Hadji-Heshmati as Javid, a friend of Tom and Alex.

Episodes[]

Series		Episodes		Originally released		Network
	1	8		4 June 2020 (2020-06-04)		Amazon Prime Video
	2	8		3 December 2021 (2021-12-03)		IMDb TV

Season 1 (2020)[]

No. overall	No. in season	Episode	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
1	1	"Lies"	Andreas Prochaska	Guy Burt	4 June 2020 (2020-06-04)
Prior to making arrangements to meet the Department of Special Operations' Director Alan Blunt, New York businessman Michael J. Roscoe is assassinated by a Russian professional hitman, Yassen Gregorovich. Meanwhile, in London, Alex Rider lives with his uncle Ian Rider, who is an undercover Department agent posing as a banker, and their American housekeeper Jack Starbright. His best friend at school is Tom. Ian is tasked with investigating the deaths of Roscoe and a Russian man whose children attended a school called Point Blanc. However, Ian is double-crossed by his field agent Martin Wilby and is shot dead by Yassen Gregorovitch. The British authorities claim that Ian was killed during a car accident. Using the Find My Phone function on Tom's phone, Alex finds his uncle's car and discovers that he was not killed during an accident. However, he encounters Blunt and fellow MI6 agent Mrs Jones, who upon realising Alex's skill would like to recruit him. Initially, Alex refuses, but upon the Department threatening Jack with deportation and Alex with living in a foster home, he decides to help them.
2	2	"Interrogation"	Andreas Prochaska	Guy Burt	4 June 2020 (2020-06-04)
After learning the true details of Ian's death from Alan Blunt and Mrs. Jones, Alex is visited at school by a man named Geoffrey Daniels, who claims to be a Foreign and Commonwealth Office official trying to get Alan's subdivision shut down for using a teenager in espionage. Realizing it is a test, Alex refuses to provide him with information. He is then kidnapped by a group led by Wolf, who interrogates him about Ian Rider and Point Blanc. Alex refuses and is tortured with loud rock music and water. However, Alex escapes only to discover that his kidnapping was part of a training exercise orchestrated by the Department and that Daniels is an MI6 agent named Smithers. Later, Alex agrees to work for the Department and infiltrate Point Blanc in order to find those who murdered his uncle Ian. Meanwhile, Wilby meets with Yassen and claims that MI6 is unaware that Ian was murdered by a double agent and linked to Point Blanc and Yassen's involvement.
3	3	"Friends"	Andreas Prochaska	Guy Burt	4 June 2020 (2020-06-04)
In order to infiltrate Point Blanc, Alex Rider poses as Alex Friend, the spoiled son of wealthy businessman Sir David Friend and his wife Lady Caroline. He is given a transmitter to MI6, disguised as an MP3 player. Prior to his meeting with Point Blanc's Dean Eva Stellenbosch, Alex spends the weekend at the Friends family mansion. Tom struggles to come to terms with Alex's double life as a spy but manages to meet him at the mansion, where Alex appraises him of the situation. Alex also has to contend with the Friends' spoiled daughter Fiona, who attempts to ambush Alex with her friends during a hunting expedition. However, Alex turns the tables on them. Alex later meets with Eva, posing as the Friends' spoiled wayward son. Fiona, angry from her encounter with Alex, tries to blow Alex's cover but is sedated by an undercover maid. Alex then leaves for Point Blanc and arrives at the school in the French mountains. Meanwhile, Tom begins to put together a YouTube documentary on Alex being a spy.
4	4	"Deep Cover"	Andreas Prochaska	Guy Burt	4 June 2020 (2020-06-04)
Upon arriving at Point Blanc Academy, Alex's belongings are searched but he is allowed to keep Smithers' fake MP3 player, which contains a transmitter. At the academy, Alex befriends James, Kyra, and Laura but find that Sasha and Arrash are estranged from the group. Maintaining his cover as a troublemaker, Alex creates a mess while washing dishes. Alex defies Dr Greif, the head of the academy, and is slapped by Eva. Back in London, MI6 realises that Martin's story about Ian's death being linked to North Korea is false and begins bugging him. Martin visits Jack's home and obtains a photo of Alex. The Department close in on Martin but he is assassinated by Yassen before they can get to him. Back at the Academy, Laura becomes sick and is admitted to the infirmary. While brushing his teeth, Alex is drugged and passes out. He wakes up dazed to find he is being prepared for some sort of operation.
5	5	"Secrets"	Christopher Smith	Guy Burt	4 June 2020 (2020-06-04)
Surprised to find himself in bed naked the following morning, Alex relates his strange 'dream' to Kyra and James, who tell him they've both had similar dreams/experiences. Laura returns to the group only to have changed, she now sits with Arrash and Sasha instead of Alex, Kyra and James, making James angry and confused. James tells Kyra and Alex they have to escape before they become like Laura. Meanwhile, Yassen investigates Alex and encounters Tom in the process. The Department attempts to contact a code on Martin's phone but his superiors realize that it is a security breach and disconnect it. While visiting Point Blanc to brief Dr Greif about the new security protocols following the breach, Yassen has a brief encounter with Alex. Seeking to escape the academy Alex, Kyra, and James break into Greif's office and reset all doors in Point Blanc. During the escape attempt, James is caught by Eva and taken into her office where, when Alex pursues finds they've somehow disappeared form the room. Meanwhile, Michael's son Parker Roscoe assumes control of his father's media company Roscorp, drawing the Department attention. At night, Alex and Kyra attempt to track down James and Eva in the Academy's second floor. They find rooms which match their current rooms perfectly. Shortly later, they witness plastic surgeon Dr. Baxter being murdered by Eva under Dr Greif's orders and Eva revealing that she intends to "deal with Kyra" the next day.
6	6	"Escape"	Christopher Smith	Guy Burt	4 June 2020 (2020-06-04)
At breakfast, James returns to the group, now changed just like Laura. He joins Arrash, Sasha and Laura, outnumbering Alex and Kyra. Kyra, knowing she's next, tells Alex they need to escape now, but Alex still needs answers to his uncle's death. Continuing his investigation, he goes to the basement and discovers that the original Point Blanc students have been imprisoned and that they have been replaced by both male and female clones of Dr Greif's. Meanwhile, in London, Tom's YouTube video draws the attention of the "Parker Roscoe" impostor, who wants to find out about Alex Friend. Parker and his minder Mr. Langham interrogate Tom, who is rescued by the Department after Jack alerts them to Tom's whereabouts. Parker's clone impostor is arrested. Alex is soon captured by Greif, who reveals his nefarious plans to reshape the global order using his clones to control key industries. Alex is then tortured but manages to escape with the help of Kyra and escapes the academy in an improvised snowboard, promising to come back for Kyra. Despite escaping from the pursuing guards on snowmobiles, Alex is knocked down by a snow-plough on a road at the bottom of the mountain.
7	7	"Incursion"	Christopher Smith	Guy Burt	4 June 2020 (2020-06-04)
The truck driver calls an ambulance for Alex who is taken to a hospital, which is reported to Dr. Greif and Eva. Eva travels to the hospital to make certain of Alex's demise, however having gotten there first, MI6 in disguise fake Alex's death. Alex convinces the rest of the Department's team including Mrs. Jones and Wolf to help him rescue the other students. Back in London, Blunt and Smithers learn that "Parker" is a clone of Dr. Greif who has undergone extensive surgery and bone restructure in order to look and sound like the real Parker. They use a voiceprint of Parker's modulated voice to convince Dr. Greif that Alex was not a threat and Tom has been eliminated. MI6 storm the academy, subdue the guards, and capture the clones. Alex is lured by the Kyra clone into a trap with Eva but manages to evade Eva as she is killed in a laboratory explosion. Wolf and his team find the real Kyra, who has freed the other students. Dr. Greif is taken prisoner (but refuses to cooperate), the clones are apprehended and Alex returns home. However, back at an empty Point Blanc, out of the rubble Alex's clone imposter emerges.
8	8	"Truth"	Christopher Smith	Guy Burt	4 June 2020 (2020-06-04)
Seeking revenge against Alex, the Clone Alex travels to London. Meanwhile, Kyra learns that her parents are dead and escapes the Department's safehouse. She visits Alex's school where they talk about Point Blanc before parting ways. Putting his plan into action, the Clone Alex ruins Alex's relationships with Tom and a girl named Ayisha. Meanwhile, Dr. Greif is assassinated by Yassen to conceal his true employers. Still troubled by his recent adventure and frayed friendship with Tom, Alex tells Mrs Jones about his encounter with a man with a scar. Mrs. Jones realises Yassen Gregorovitch, whom the Department thought dead, is still alive and that SCORPIA, known for causing terrorist incidents, has come out of hiding. The Department also realizes that one of Dr Greif's eighth clone is missing. At the school prom, the Clone Alex beats up and apprehends Tom, demanding that Alex meet him. Alex fights his Clone imposter on school grounds as the Department arrives. Tom manages to subdue the Clone Alex, who is arrested by the Department but breaks free. Yassen assassinates the Clone imposter, inadvertently saving Alex's life. While Alex wants to return to a normal life, Blunt appears to have other plans for him.

Season 2 (2021)[]

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No. overall	No. in season	Episode	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
9	1	"Surf"	Rebecca Gatward	Guy Burt	3 December 2021 (2021-12-03)
Since Point Blanc, Alex has been having PTSD episodes, as well as hallucinating Yassen wherever he goes. To help with his situation, Jack suggests they, as well as Alex's best friend Tom, take a camping trip to Cornwall during the school break. Whilst in Cornwall, Tom is addicted to a new game on his tablet called "Feathered Serpent" whilst Alex starts seeing Yassen again. Whilst chasing after him he meets a girl named Sabina who is staying in a lodge. Later he heads to her lodge and invites her out all while her internet is being fixed by a man who Alex soon spots to be Yassen himself, but chalks it up to another hallucination. As Alex and Sabina are walking, a huge explosion occurs at Sabina's lodge. Alex enters the burning lodge and rescues Sabina's father. When Alex explains who he thinks set off the bomb, the police tell Alex it was a gas leak that caused the explosion. The police start to suspect Alex may have caused the explosion, so Alex gives the police a card to call (to MI6), but the number is not recognised. Arriving back home, Alex heads to the location where MI6 is situated, only to find the building empty. Alex spots a camera, where on the other end Alan Blunt watches him from his laptop.
10	2	"Hunt"	Rebecca Gatward	Guy Burt	3 December 2021 (2021-12-03)
Alan Blunt and Mrs Jones meet with Jo Byrne, Deputy Director of the CIA to discuss a Pentagon hack that almost stole nuclear launch codes, and believes the perpetrator is named 'Smoking Mirror'. In a flashback sequence three months ago, Sabina's father tries to obtain information from Smoking Mirror about Damian Cray, though Mirror tells him to back off. In the present day again, Alex frantically searches for MI6. Later Alex meets Sabina in hospital to check on her father, only for Alex to spot Mirror entering his room, who soon escapes. Back at home, Alex speaks with Jack and Tom to figure out a way to find MI6, in which Jack suggests he go see if the Friend family knows anything. David Friend reluctantly tells Alex about a club Alan Blunt frequents in. Knowing Alan is currently inside, Alex and Tom stake out the club and waits for him to leave. To follow and avoid detection, Tom straps his cellular enabled GoPro to Alan's car and guides Alex to their supposedly new hideout, only for Alex to get captured by MI6 with Smoking Mirror getting away. At MI6, Alex tells them of Yassen in Cornwall, though Alan claims they've been watching Yassen for six months, a lie, and he's been nowhere near there. As Alex leaves MI6, Mrs. Jones catches up with him to console him, though Alex tells her if they won't do anything, he will.
11	3	"Mirror"	Rebecca Gatward	Guy Burt	3 December 2021 (2021-12-03)
In Amsterdam, Damien Cray prepares for the release of Feathered Serpent 2. MI6 struggle to locate Smoking Mirror, while Mirror himself hides out in a survival shelter. Alex and Sabina enter Sabina's home to find out what her father knows on Damien Cray, but finds no information. Meanwhile Mirror watches the pair through Sabina's father's laptop camera and tries to identify who Alex is. Tom, infatuated by the fight he caught on camera with Alex and MI6 notices a bike leave the scene with its number plate showing. He shows Alex this, who takes the information to Mr Smithers. Smithers takes this information to MI6 who keeps an eye on CCTV cameras; he lies about how he came across this information. Back at home, Alex's learns Jack will be working alongside Damien Cray. Soon after, his home is hacked by Mirror to warn him to stop snooping around. The next day, Alex gets a call from Mirror to meet at a warehouse alone. Upon arrival, Alex meets with Mirror; however, they are soon interrupted by Yassen, who shoots Mirror dead. Yassen chases Alex, not knowing it is him he is chasing. Once he realises, he lets Alex escape. MI6 arrives and finds Mirror's body.
12	4	"Serpent"	Rebecca Gatward	Guy Burt	3 December 2021 (2021-12-03)
MI6 investigates Smoking Mirror's hideout. Mrs Jones realises there may be hidden cameras they can use to find out more information, and succeed in finding some. Damien Cray asks his staff to track down the top Feathered Serpent player, though it proves difficult for his staff. Alex meets with Sabina and tells her what he knows about the attempted murder on her father Ed; she thinks he is crazy and asks him to stay away from her. Alex speaks with Smithers again to tell him about Damien Cray and discuss another man named Charlie Roper, who knew Sabina's father and works for Damien Cray. With the help of Tom, Alex manages to speak privately with Charlie and discuss Ed's attempted murder and Damien's obsession with the game. To help Alex understand more on the game, Charlie helps Alex pose as the top player 'K7'. At a pre-launch event, Alex and other streamers are invited to try an augmented reality version of the first Feathered Serpent, with the prize of beating it being the first copy of the sequel. Alex is almost beaten down by the game's real damage to him, but manages to escape the building with Feathered Serpent 2 with the help of the real K7: Kyra. Damien later speaks with Yassen and tells him about the kid that ruined his event. Yassen learns it was Alex, and tells him not to worry.
13	5	"Threats"	Jon Jones	Guy Burt	3 December 2021 (2021-12-03)
At Alex's home, he, Kyra, Tom and Jack discuss the game and what could be hiding in it. At MI6 Alan Blunt tells Jo she should cancel the USA President's visit to the UK for her safety; the president who is a friend of Damien Cray as they believe someone is trying to get to the President through Damien. Meanwhile Damien asks Evelyn, a staff member of his, to look into how somebody was able to pretend to be K7 at his event. Charlie speaks with Sabina and tells her he believes Alex and what he told her. In order to look properly into the games code, Kyra blacks out the postcode area of Alex's school so they can use the IT room, shutting school services for a while at the same time. MI6 track Alex at the school and bring him in, and tells him to stop looking into Damien Cray. MI6 reach out to Damien Cray and ask him to delay his event for his own safety, though he refuses. Later, Damien requests Charlie stay with him, knowing he has been leaking information to Ed Pleasance. Alex returns to school, where they find redacted code, and the only place they can access it is at Craystar Headquarters in Amsterdam. Knowing he is tracked, Alex removes any tracking devices MI6 placed in his belongings and heads to Amsterdam with Kyra and Tom through the Eurostar.
14	6	"Heist"	Jon Jones	Guy Burt	3 December 2021 (2021-12-03)
Alex, Kyra and Tom arrive in Amsterdam, where they research how they're going to infiltrate Craystar. Using a driver that comes in and out of the building, Tom distracts him while Alex uses a card machine Kyra stole earlier to create a boss level key card. With that complete, Alex and Kyra sneak into the driver's truck heading for the facility. Meanwhile at MI6 they look into the staff working at Damien Cray's dinner to see if there are any ties to SCORPIA. Damien is nervous around MI6 compromising what he has planned, and goes to Yassen for help. Later Damien takes Charlie to Amsterdam to show him the truth. Alex and Kyra infiltrate the facility and manage to hack into Evelyn's terminal and download the code, though they don't have enough time to download it before Damien arrives with Charlie and Evelyn, so they hide. Meanwhile Yassen sets up the head of security of Damien's party as MI6 find ties between him and old SCORPIA records. Back in Amsterdam, Damien tells Charlie he paid for the hit on Ed Pleasance, and talks about killing a million people to save a hundred million. Charlie refuses to be a part of whatever Damien has planned. Just as Damien is about to shoot Charlie, Alex comes out of hiding to stop him, though Charlie is shot and killed anyway.
15	7	"Assassin"	Jon Jones	Guy Burt	3 December 2021 (2021-12-03)
Damien demands Alex tell him why he is at Craystar, but Alex refuses to say anything. He threatens to hurt him and Kyra and locks them in a room to think about telling him. MI6 look into the head of security they detained and believe they may have been tricked. Meanwhile Jack is doing contracting work at Craystar in London and is contacted by Tom as he hasn't heard from Alex. Tom asks Jack to create some sort of distraction from Evelyn's London office, so Jack breaks into Evelyn's laptop and sends an e-mail telling the world the launch for Feathered Serpent 2 has been cancelled; Tom also runs from security chasing him. Evelyn realises a spoof e-mail was sent to the world, and suggests Damien goes live on air to resolve the issue. Meanwhile Alex and Kyra manage to break out of Craystar Amsterdam with the game code. As they run and catch up with Tom, Damien realises their escape and controls a drone to try and kill them, but he fails. Jack is dismissed from her job after being found out about what she did. Alex, Kyra and Tom arrive back in London and hand Mrs. Jones the game code. Upon arriving home, Alex gets a call regarding a vial with a thumbprint he stole from Damien who wants it back. In return, he will give back Sabina, who Yassen kidnapped earlier.
16	8	"Strike"	Jon Jones	Guy Burt	3 December 2021 (2021-12-03)
Alex hands the thumbprint back to Damien, revealed to be the President's. Damien orders Alex and Sabina killed, though Yassen suggests keeping them prisoner instead. Damien heads to the airbase where Air Force One is located, taking Sabina with him as collateral. Alex escapes and hides on top of a truck heading the same direction. Tom finds Alex's front door left open and spots Alex's phone on top of an envelope that Tom gave back to him with a tracker, though the tracker is missing and informs MI6. MI6 believe the dinner to be a trap and evacuates the President. At Air Force One, Damien manages to get on board, and the countdown to the games launch ends. This in turn, using 200 million logins to the game, creates a super computer capable of obtaining the nuclear launch codes. Using deep fake technology, he is able to pose as the President and set nukes for launch, which will wipe out areas of the world drugs are know to come from, killing 1.14 million innocent people. Alex and Sabina try to stop him, injuring Yassen in the process, but Damien gets the better of Alex. Before Damien can kill Alex, Yassen kills Damien. Yassen tells Alex to "find Widow, find SCORPIA". Alex then manages to stop the launch, but Yassen escapes just as MI6 arrive. As a thank you, Jack is made Alex's permanent legal guardian.

Production[]

Development[]

In May 2017, Variety reported that Eleventh Hour Films had optioned the film rights for Horowitz's Alex Rider series and would produce the series for ITV. Guy Burt was attached as showrunner.^[5] The series is directed by Andreas Prochaska and Christopher Smith.

In July 2018, Variety reported that Eleventh Hour Films would be teaming up with Sony Pictures Television to produce an eight episode adaptation of Point Blanc, the second book in the Alex Rider series. Horowitz executive produced the series. Sony Pictures Television's international and worldwide distribution divisions under Wayne Garvie and Keith Le Goy were attached to the film series. Sony was responsible for funding and looking for broadcasting or platform distributors.^[1]

On 10 November 2020, the series was officially renewed for a second season and will adapt the Alex Rider book Eagle Strike.^[6][7] As of 12 May 2021, a third season is in development.^[8]

Casting[]

It was announced on 23 April 2019 that Otto Farrant would star as the titular character.^[9] More cast members were announced the following day, including Brenock O'Connor, Stephen Dillane, Vicky McClure, Andrew Buchan, Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo, Ace Bhatti and Nyasha Hatendi.^[10]

Toby Stephens, Rakie Ayola, and Charithra Chandran joined the cast for season 2.^[3]

Filming[]

The first season was produced over six months, beginning in March 2019.^[11] Filming locations included London and, for the French Alps scenes, around Sinaia in Prahova County, Romania.^[12]

As it was meant to be renewed earlier, principal photography for the second season was initially set to take place in late 2020 before being pushed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[13] The series began production in February 2021 in Bristol, England, at the old buildings near Cumberland Basin, The Watershead & Queen Square (with Canary Wharf graphically imposed behind). In February the crew were spotted filming scenes at Goldney Hall.^[14][15][16] Filming moved to Cornwall in March 2021 and at Widemouth Bay where Otto Farrant was spotted on set.^[17][18] Production also took place in Cardiff in March where the city was reportedly doubling for London in some shots.^[19] In April 2021, it was reported that Alex Rider was filming at Cotswold Airport during the night. Filming was done mostly on an ex British Airways Boeing 747-400 aircraft, the aircraft in question was G-CIVB and was used to shoot the final 2 episodes. ^[20] In June 2021, author Anthony Horowitz tweeted that filming for Season 2 had concluded. ^[21]

Release[]

Marketing[]

While promoting the series, lead star Otto Farrant praised the show for addressing societal shifts which allowed men to talk about their feelings, sensitivities, and vulnerabilities. He also stated that the series would appeal to a new teenage audience that was discovering the Alex Rider novel series for the first time by avoiding darker themes.^[22]

In early December 2021, Alex Rider creator and executive producer Anthony Horowitz confirmed that the second season would explore the protagonist's struggle with post traumatic stress disorder following the events of the first season and that the second season would adapt the events of the fourth novel Eagle Strike. Toby Stephens, who played the antagonistic Damian Cray, described his character as less flamboyant that the book version and drew inspiration from "Big Tech" entrepreneurs Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk for his character. Returning cast member Ronke Adékoluęjo confirmed that the second season would explore her continuing her role as Alex's guardian while pursuing her dream of becoming a lawyer.^[23]

Distribution[]

The eight-episode first season was released on Amazon Prime Video in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 4 June 2020,^[24] and was released on Amazon Prime Video in Australia, Germany, and Austria later in mid-2020.^[25] In New Zealand, the television series is distributed by TVNZ On Demand.^[26] The show premiered on Prime in Canada, Italy, and Latin America and on Amazon's IMDb TV in the United States.^[27][28][7]

The second season was released by IMDb TV in the United Kingdom and the United States on 3 December 2021, and on Amazon Prime Video in Australia, Canada, Italy, Germany, Latin America, and New Zealand.^[7][29][30]

Reception[]

Season One[]

For the first season, the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 85% approval rating, with an average rating of 6.4/10 based on 27 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "Alex Rider's first season takes a minute to find it's footing, but once it does it proves a solid entry into the espionage game that the whole family can enjoy."^[31] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 67 out of 100 based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[32]

Reviewing for The Guardian, Lucy Mangan gave the series three out of five stars, describing it as an "improbable, action-packed romp for all your escapism needs." She described Alex Rider as a teenage James Bond, praising the lead star Otto Farrant for bringing more to the role than was written into what she described as a "serviceable script." She described the series as a blend of Jason Bourne and Spooks.^[33] NME's Will Richards gave the series three out of five stars, describing it as a second-chance for the Alex Rider series following the failure of the 2006 Stormbreaker movie adaptation. Richards observed that the series avoided the clichéd James Bond gadgets for the first two episodes. Richards praised Farrant's performance as Alex Rider but opined that the series needed tinkering to identify its target audience. Richards also described co-star Brenock O'Connor's performance as Alex's best friend Tom Harris as charismatic. While praising Marli Siu's character Kyra as a worthy addition to the male-centric world of the series, he expressed disappointment that Vicky McClure and Stephen Dillane's characters were under-utilised.^[22]

Ed Cumming of The Independent awarded the series three out of five stars, describing it as "stylish but not sanitised, catching more of the books' momentum and bringing them up to speed with the 21st century." He regarded Alex Rider as more faithful to the series than the 2006 Stormbreaker film. He also praised Farrant's version of Alex Rider as more plausible than Alex Pettyfer's version of the character, describing the former as "a teenage schoolboy with a footballer haircut but less of a male-model energy." Cumming also praised the series for aiming at both young adults and adults, inclusion of modern communications technologies like smartphones and social media, and more diverse cast.^[34] The Spinoff's reviewer Sam Brooks praised the TV series for capturing the spirit of the original novel series and appealing to both teenagers and adult fans who had grown up reading the novel series. Brooks also praised Farrant's performance as Alex Rider, opining that he nailed the soul of the teenage protagonist by capturing his strengths, moods, and fears.^[26]

The Telegraph's Anita Singh gave the series four out of five stars, describing it as "slick and stylish, bringing the stories up-to-date with smartphones and cybertechnology while sticking to the spirit of Boy's Own adventures". She regarded it as far superior to the 2006 film and praised the series for its unique cinematography of London. Singh also positively compared it to the Bourne franchise and praised the series for being able to entertain adults and teenagers alike.^[35] Emmy Griffiths of Hello! magazine compared the television series favourably to the 2006 film, praising the show's pacing, worldbuilding, and family-oriented audience. She described the series as both a "coming-of-age tale" for Alex Rider with a police-procedural subplot focusing on MI6's efforts to track down Alex's uncle Ian's killer. Griffiths also praised Farrant, McClure, and O'Connor's performances.^[36]

Season Two[]

Martin Carr of the popular culture review website "Flickering Myth" praised the second season for building on first season's story threads, which gave audiences a sense of interconnection and grounded action sequences by demonstrating tangible consequences. Despite criticising what he regarded as the season's slow start, Carr praised the performance of the returning main cast members particularly Farrant, O'Connor, Adekoluejo, and Dillane. Carr also credited Toby Stephens for bringing "more conflict and less caricature" to his role as the main antagonist Damian Cray.^[37]

Meaww.com reviewer Aaron Abishek praised series writer Gary Burt for expanding on the series' world-building, stating that second season ensured that the Alex Rider series "can spawn as many sequels as the books will allow." While critical of the second season's slow buildup, Abishek gave a sympathetic appraisal of the performance of the second season's cast. Besides praising Farrant, O'Connor and Adekoluejo, he also gave a favourable review of newcomers Stephens and (who played Rider's new love interest Sabina Pleasance). While noting that the second season differed from its source material Eagle Strike, Bishek praised the season for raising the stakes in the series.^[38]

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Alex Rider at IMDb