Prime Video has released the official teaser trailer and first-look images for Criminal, an upcoming live-action television adaptation of the multi-Eisner Award-winning graphic novel series created by writer Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips. Announced on November 5, 2026, the eight-episode crime drama will debut in two distinct four-episode installments in January 2027 across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, according to Deadline. Led by Charlie Hunnam, Adria Arjona, Luke Evans, and Emilia Clarke, the series brings the acclaimed Image Comics property to the screen with a two-part rollout designed to mirror the interconnected structure of the source material.

A Two-Part Rollout: 'Coward' and 'Lawless'

Rather than following a traditional weekly episode drop or a single full-season binge, Prime Video is dividing the eight-episode first season into two four-episode chapters released 14 days apart.

As confirmed by Image Comics and IGN, all four episodes of Criminal Part One: Coward will premiere on January 13, 2027, followed by all four episodes of Criminal Part Two: Lawless on January 27, 2027.

The narrative builds an interlocking universe of crime stories centered on two childhood friends, Leo Patterson (played by Charlie Hunnam) and Ricky Lawless (played by Gus Halper). Raised within the same criminal underworld, the pair hold vastly different ambitions: Leo is a cautious thief attempting to fight his way out of the outlaw life, while Ricky is desperate to follow in the footsteps of his legendary outlaw father. In the first four-episode arc, Coward, buried family secrets surface as Leo and Ricky remain haunted by a childhood murder and are pulled into a heist that goes wrong.

The second installment, Lawless, shifts the primary focus to Ricky's older brother, played by Luke Evans (while some secondary coverage from Telly Visions spells the character's first name as "Tracey," the official press listing from Amazon MGM Studios and reporting from KOIN identify him as Tracy Lawless).

Having chosen the Army over prison 20 years earlier, Tracy returns home only to find his younger brother in too deep with dangerous figures, forcing the veteran back into the criminal life he fled.

Ensemble Cast and Creative Leadership

Surrounding the central trio is a prominent ensemble cast. Adria Arjona stars as Greta, a sharp-tongued car thief from Leo's past, while Emilia Clarke portrays Mallory, Ricky's girlfriend, who fears the lengths he will go to in order to survive. According to the official series press page from Amazon MGM Studios, the main cast also features Richard Jenkins as Ivan, Kadeem Hardison as Gnarly, John Hawkes as Sebastian Hyde, and Logan Browning as Jenny.

The production features a deep bench of recurring and guest performers. As detailed by TVLine and studio press materials, the expanded cast includes Michael Mando, Garrett Hedlund, Patrick J.

Adams, Pat Healy, Taylor Selé, Aliyah Camacho, Marvin Jones III, Michael Xavier, Dominic Burgess, Chris Diamantopoulos, Lawrence Kao, Katie Stevens, John Pyper-Ferguson, Robert Lee Hart, Aina Brei'yon, Josh David Lopez, Drew Powell, and Kyle Davis.

Behind the camera, original comic book writer Ed Brubaker serves as co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer alongside crime novelist Jordan Harper. According to themoviebox.net, the directing duties are split between the two installments to match the two-part structure: directing duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck helm the four episodes of Coward, while director Dee Rees takes the reins for the four episodes of Lawless. Original comic artist Sean Phillips also serves as an executive producer alongside Philipp A. Barnett, Sarah Carbiener, Halley Gross, Boden, Fleck, and Rees, with Cortney Norris and Minhal Baig serving as co-executive producers.

The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios, Basement Gang, Inc., Big Indie Pictures, Inc., Gowanus Projections, Inc., and Legendary Television Productions, Inc.

Production Impact in Portland

While the teaser trailer introduces global audiences to the gritty aesthetic of the adaptation, it also highlights a major regional production milestone for the Pacific Northwest. According to The Portland Tribune, Criminal was filmed throughout Portland, Oregon, and its surrounding areas in 2024.

The production brought more than 300 cast and crew members to the Portland metropolitan area and utilized more than 60 permitted filming locations across the region. For streaming viewers and comic book readers alike, the extensive on-location shooting provides a grounded, physical backdrop for the heists, gunfights, and noir storytelling that define Brubaker and Phillips' graphic novels.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do the 'Coward' and 'Lawless' story arcs connect?

Both four-episode parts share an interconnected narrative universe. Coward focuses on cautious thief Leo Patterson (Charlie Hunnam) and his volatile best friend Ricky Lawless (Gus Halper) after a heist goes wrong.

Lawless centers on Ricky's older brother, Tracy Lawless (Luke Evans), who returns from the Army and is pulled back into the criminal underworld when Ricky gets into trouble with the wrong people.

When and how will the episodes be released?

Prime Video is releasing the eight-episode season in two batches separated by 14 days. While some general coverage summarizes the premiere simply by its January dates, Variety and Deadline confirm that all four episodes of Part One (Coward) drop on January 13, 2027, and all four episodes of Part Two (Lawless) arrive on January 27, 2027.

How closely is the original creative team involved in the adaptation?

Both creators of the original Image Comics series are directly involved in the television production. Writer Ed Brubaker serves as co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer alongside Jordan Harper, and original artist Sean Phillips serves as an executive producer on the series.

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