Tahar Rahim Stars in ‘Prisoner’ A Must-Watch Action Thriller Series

Tahar Rahim is making a significant return to television, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect. The French-Algerian actor, renowned for his roles in ‘Un Prophète’ and ‘The Serpent’, now leads ‘Prisoner’, a gripping new action thriller series produced by Sky Atlantic and Canal+ that premiered on April 30.

Created by Matt Charman, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter behind ‘Bridge of Spies’, and directed by Otto Bathurst, known for his work on ‘Peaky Blinders’, this six-episode series promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

In ‘Prisoner’, Rahim portrays Tibor Stone, a trained assassin and high-value inmate being transported to court to testify against the powerful crime syndicate he once served. When the convoy is ambushed on a desolate road, Stone and prison transport officer Amber Todd, played by Izuka Hoyle, become the only survivors, handcuffed together and forced to flee while being pursued by both the syndicate and corrupt officials.

To prepare for his role, Rahim collaborated with a psychologist, watched documentaries about sociopaths, and gained 15 kilograms of muscle through intense workouts in the two months between wrapping his film ‘Alpha’ and starting ‘Prisoner’. He also trained to fight while physically shackled to another person throughout the filming process.

Rahim described his character and the show’s thematic essence, saying, “He’s good at reading people and using their feelings to get what he wants. Over the course of the show, their survival relationship turns into a strange, human relationship. It’s about trust and betrayal, you don’t know who to trust.”

This project marks the first time Rahim has taken on a co-executive producer role, a credit he attributes to his close creative collaboration with Charman during the development phase. Charman has expressed admiration for Rahim’s work for years and specifically sought his enigmatic presence for the role of Tibor.

The chemistry between the two leads has garnered particular attention ahead of the release. In an interview with THR, Hoyle praised her co-star, “He is, without a doubt, one of the greatest scene partners I’ve had the pleasure to work with. We instantly clicked and fell in love, so to speak.”

The supporting cast features Eddie Marsan, Catherine McCormack, Leonie Benesch, Finn Bennett, Sam Troughton, and Laurie Davidson. ‘Prisoner’ is available for streaming on Sky Atlantic and NOW, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre and Rahim’s work this year.

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