Prime Video Sets January 2027 Premiere for Graphic Novel Adaptation Criminal
Charlie Hunnam and Emilia Clarke star in the gritty two-part crime drama series.
1Release Schedule and Structure
Prime Video has officially scheduled the premiere of its new series Criminal for Wednesday, January 13, 2027. The production will be released in two distinct parts. The first four-episode segment, titled Coward, debuts on January 13, while the second four-episode arc, Lawless, is set to begin streaming on Wednesday, January 27.
2Source Material and Creators
The series is a direct adaptation of the popular graphic novel series created by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. Both creators are serving as executive producers on the project. They are joined by a large production team including Philipp A. Barnett, Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, Jordan Harper, Sarah Carbiener, Dee Rees, and Halley Gross.
3Star-Studded Ensemble Cast
The production features a high-profile cast led by Charlie Hunnam, Adria Arjona, and Emilia Clarke. Supporting roles and guest appearances include Luke Evans, Richard Jenkins, Kadeem Hardison, John Hawkes, Logan Browning, and Gus Halper. Additional recurring talent features Patrick J. Adams, Garrett Hedlund, Michael Mando, Taylor Selé, Chris Diamantopoulos, Marvin Jones III, and Pat Healy.
4Part One Narrative Focus
The first part of the series centers on Leo Patterson, played by Charlie Hunnam, and his friend Ricky Lawless, portrayed by Gus Halper. Their story is defined by a childhood murder and a botched heist. These events force the characters to confront buried family secrets and a dangerous past they cannot escape.
5Part Two Narrative Arc
The second part shifts focus to Tracy Lawless, played by Luke Evans, who previously chose military service over a life of crime. When his brother Ricky becomes entangled with dangerous associates, Tracy is forced to return to his former criminal life. This arc explores the true meaning of the Lawless family name.
6Key Female Characters
Adria Arjona and Emilia Clarke play pivotal roles as Greta and Mallory. Greta is introduced as a sharp-tongued car thief with a history connected to Leo. Mallory is depicted as Ricky’s girlfriend, who lives in constant fear regarding the extreme measures Ricky might take to survive within their illicit criminal world.
7Production Studio Collaboration
Amazon MGM Studios is leading the production of the series in collaboration with several entities. These include Basement Gang, Inc., Big Indie Pictures, Inc., Gowanus Projections, Inc., and Legendary Television Productions, Inc. The involvement of multiple production houses highlights the scale of this adaptation within the current competitive streaming landscape for original content.
8Strategic Content Expansion
By adapting established graphic novel intellectual property, Prime Video aims to capture existing fan bases while attracting new viewers. The decision to split the season into two parts suggests a strategy to maintain audience engagement over a longer period in January 2027, rather than releasing the entire series as a single binge-watch event.