New 4-Part British Spy Series Emerges as a True 10/10 James Bond Replacement

1 week ago 16

Published Feb 16, 2026, 10:19 AM EST

In over three years at Collider, senior author Jake has now penned over 2500 articles covering a wide range of TV and film for the resources, lists, utilities, news, and interview teams. Alongside interviewing stars such as Selin Hizli, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Harlan Coben, and Chelsea Peretti, Jake was lucky enough to visit the set of Aardman and Netflix's Wallace and Gromit: A Vengeance Most Fowl in 2024, getting the chance to chat with four-time Academy Award winner Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham. Jake has also worked for other publications, including Agents of Fandom.

With acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve ready to take over directorial control of James Bond's next outing, excitement is high about what this new Amazon MGM Studios era will hold for the iconic spy franchise. Almost five years have now passed since Daniel Craig's last outing as 007 in No Time to Die, with the explosive, jaw-dropping ending leaving the future of the franchise in doubt. Thankfully, a fresh new era for Bond has now been forged, although a lead actor has yet to be picked, and Villeneuve has confirmed his search for the next 006 won't begin until he wraps Dune: Part Three.

This has left an almighty, bullet-shaped hole in the viewing habits of millions of Bond fans. With spy series hardly few and far between, the hunt for the next Bond replacement has conjured plenty of hopefuls, with many leaving fans disappointed. Recently, that might have all changed, as the potentially perfect Bond replacement made its debut on ITV in the UK.

Betrayal, written by award-winning playwright and screenwriter David Eldridge and directed by BAFTA and Emmy nominee Julian Jarrold, has caught the eye of both audiences and critics since its recent debut. In fact, so impressive has it been thus far that it currently holds a coveted, perfect 100% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with one critic praising "out of the ordinary" performances, with another commending star Shaun Evans for bringing "a bewildered vulnerability to John’s struggle to be better."

Could 'Betrayal' Return for More?

A man looks through a long lens camera next to a woman in 'Betrayal'

So impressive has this crime series' early run been that many are already talking about a second season renewal. In a recent interview, Vigil star Evans commented on this possibility, first saying, "We set out to make a four-parter which was strong and felt like it had no filler, that it wasn't hanging around, that it was tight and concise, and that the story was really strong." He continued, "And then you offer that to the world, and if there's an appetite for more, then we will get together and discuss whether there's more story to tell." A synopsis for Betrayal reads:

"At the heart of the story is John Hughes, a mid-career MI5 officer navigating a rapidly evolving intelligence landscape while struggling to keep his personal life intact. On a hunch, John meets a British-Iranian man with links to the Stockport gangland who claims he has intelligence about a plot on UK soil. Before he can share intel, the informant is executed, and John kills the assassin in self-defence. John soon finds himself under internal investigation, facing scrutiny from his superiors, including Simone Grant (Nikki Amuka-Bird), while his partner Claire (Romola Garai) grapples with the secrecy that defines his world."

For more updates on British television and for the latest James Bond news, make sure to stay tuned to Collider.