Industry Season 4 Is Here, and It’s Finally the Global Phenomenon It Deserves to Be

For years, HBO’s Industry was the definition of a “cult hit”—a show obsessed over by a small, fervent corner of Twitter and finance insiders, but often overlooked by the broader television audience. That narrative has officially shifted. With the premiere of its fourth season this past Sunday, the London-based high-finance drama has not just returned; it has exploded into a global powerhouse that is finally demanding the mainstream attention its die-hard fans always knew it deserved.

If the third season was the show’s breakout moment—seeing viewership surge by nearly 40% and moving to the coveted Sunday night prestige slot—Season 4 is its coronation. The series, created by former bankers Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, has managed to reinvent itself yet again, proving that it is far more than just ” Succession for trading floors.” The buzz surrounding the January 11 premiere suggests that Industry has successfully made the leap from a niche workplace drama to a genuine watercooler thriller, captivating viewers from the UK to the US and beyond.

The genius of this latest season lies in its willingness to burn everything to the ground. Following the explosive finale of Season 3, which saw the dissolution of Pierpoint & Co. as we knew it, the show has reset the board entirely. The familiar trading floor is gone, replaced by a fractured landscape where loyalties are even more transactional than before. The creators have described this season as a “blank slate,” allowing them to push the genre into darker, almost sociopathic territory. It feels less like a workplace drama and more like a high-stakes psychological thriller, where the weapon of choice is capital and the casualties are human souls.

The new season finds our anti-heroes in radically different positions. Harper Stern (Myha’la), having cemented her reputation as a ruthless operator, is now navigating the volatile world of fintech alongside Petra Koenig. Meanwhile, Yasmin Kara-Hanani (Marisa Abela) has trapped herself in a gilded cage, having married the chaotic aristocrat Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington) in a desperate bid for security. The tension between these scattered characters is palpable, driven by a script that feels sharper and more accelerated than ever. The introduction of “Tender,” a payment processing startup dealing with the ethical minefield of online age verification and adult content, adds a timely and provocative layer to the season’s narrative arc.

Beyond the immediate plot twists, the show’s longevity is a testament to the rising star power of its cast, who have all seen their profiles skyrocket since the series debuted in 2020. Myha’la, who plays the brilliant but destructive Harper, is having a massive month. Alongside the Industry premiere, she is currently starring in Gus Van Sant’s new crime thriller Dead Man’s Wire, which just hit theaters. Her performance as an ambitious journalist in the 1970s-set film is already generating Oscar buzz, marking a significant departure from the modern corporate shark she plays on HBO. This comes on the heels of her memorable roles in the Netflix hit Leave the World Behind and the A24 slasher Bodies Bodies Bodies, cementing her status as one of Hollywood’s most versatile young talents.

Marisa Abela has arguably had the most transformative couple of years. Following her sensitive portrayal of Amy Winehouse in the biopic Back to Black, Abela finally received institutional recognition for her work on Industry, taking home a BAFTA TV Award for Leading Actress in 2025. Her trajectory shows no signs of slowing down; she has been cast in the highly anticipated reboot of Highlander, where she will star alongside Henry Cavill. Additionally, she recently lent her voice to the role of Elizabeth Bennet in a star-studded Audible adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, further showcasing her range beyond the high-stress world of investment banking.

Harry Lawtey, who plays the soulful but perpetually battered Robert Spearing, has also graduated to blockbuster status. Audiences recently saw him take on the iconic role of Harvey Dent in Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux, a massive platform that introduced him to a global fanbase. Looking ahead, Lawtey is set to lead the cast of Mr. Burton, a biopic in which he plays a young Richard Burton opposite Toby Jones. The film, released later this year, is expected to be a major awards contender in the UK.

The ensemble for Season 4 has also expanded to include some heavy hitters. Max Minghella joins the fray as Whitney Halberstram, the enigmatic founder of the fintech company Tender, bringing a calculated intensity that rivals even the show’s original sharks. We are also seeing Stranger Things alum Charlie Heaton and Kiernan Shipka enter the mix, adding fresh energy to an already combustible dynamic. The presence of these established stars is yet another signal that Industry has become a destination series for top-tier talent.

As the season unfolds, it is clear that Industry is no longer just a show about banking; it is a sharp, cynical, and undeniably sexy examination of power in the 2020s. It captures the desperation of the current economic moment better than almost anything else on television. With its characters now stripped of the institutional protection of a big bank, the stakes feel more personal and life-threatening. The creators have promised that this season will be “anti-status quo” and “anti-establishment,” and if the premiere is any indication, they are delivering on that promise with terrifying precision.

We are only one episode in, but the conversation is already dominating social media timelines. Whether you are here for the complex financial jargon, the high-octane interpersonal drama, or simply to watch this incredible cast operate at the peak of their powers, one thing is certain: Industry has finally arrived.

We want to hear what you think about the new direction of the show and the explosive premiere—share your theories and reactions in the comments.