Prime Video's spy thriller The Assassin is adding some serious genre credentials for its second season. Natalia Tena, known for playing Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter films and Osha in Game of Thrones, has joined the cast as Inspector Cortez, a sharp Spanish detective. According to the report, Tena will appear alongside returning leads Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore, with the new season seeing Julie slip back into her old assassin ways while Edward's honeymoon is disrupted, forcing them to reunite against Spain's corrupt underworld.

A 'Harry Potter' and 'Game of Thrones' veteran joins Prime Video's Spanish detective squad

The casting of Natalia Tena brings instant genre recognition to The Assassin. As the report notes, Tena is described as playing "a sharp Spanish detective whose emotional intelligence and steely ambition should not be underestimated." This character, Inspector Cortez, adds a law-enforcement perspective to a show that has so far focused on assassins and their targets. Adding an actor with Tena's fan following could help Prime Video attract viewers who might otherwise wait for the next James Bond movie.

The new season also features a host of other cast members, including Arnaud Binard (Emily in Paris), Boris Van Severen (Baptiste), and Jacqueline Boatswain (Bridgerton),among others. This ensemble suggests a wider scope for Season 2, possibly expanding the show's world beyond the central duo of Julie and Edward.

Prime Video's $1 billion Bond bet and its impact on 'The Assassin'

Prime Video's parent company Amazon recently purchased the rights to James Bond for an eye-watering $1 billion, officially starting a new era for the franchise. According to the source article, the search for the next Bond is ongoing, with Callum Turner currently the bookies' favorite, and Dune director Denis Villeneuve and Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight behind the 26th Bond movie. This massive investment raises the stakes for every other spy property on Prime Video, including The Assassin. The show must now prove it can hold its own against the 800-pound gorilla of 007, or risk being overshadowed.

That said, The Assassin offers a distinct tone. Its Spanish setting and focus on a fractured partnership between two assassins set it apart from Bond's globe-trotting suaveness. The source notes the new season involves Spain's corrupt underworld, giving the show a grounded, regional flavor that Bond rarely touches.

What the Season 2 synopsis reveals about Julie and Edward's fractured relationship

The synopsis for Season 2, as reported, says: "Julie's days as an asasssin are far from behind her as she has slipped back to her old ways, whilst navigating something just as perilous… the dating scene. when Edward's honeymoon with Kayla (Shalom Brune-Franklin) doesn't go quite as planned, he must reunite with Julie to take on Spain's corrupt underworld, but can they survive the job and mend the rift that tore them apart?" This reveals that Julie and Edward remain at odds—Julie is back to killing and dating, while Edward has moved on with Kayla. Their forced reunion suggests the writers are leaning into the tension betwen personal history and professional necessity.

The synopsis also confirms that Season 2 will explore whether the pair can reconcile after the events of Season 1. The line "mend the rift that tore them apart" indicates that the show is building toward major character decisions, rather than simply repeating the first season's formula.

Key questions still unanswered: release date and the show's place in Prime Video's expanding spy universe

The report does not provide a release date for Season 2 of The Assassin, leaving fans in the dark about when they can expect the new episodes. Additionally, it remains unclear how Prime Video plans to balance this original series with its newly acquired Bond franchise. Will there be cross-promotion, or will The Assassin be positioned as a smaller , edgier alternative? The source also does not specify how many episodes Season 2 will have or whether it has already begun filming.

Another open question is how Natalia Tena's Inspector Cortez will interact with Julie and Edward—is she an antagonist, an ally, or something in between? The description of her as having "steely ambition" suggests she could be a wildcard in the story .