Throughout it four-season run on Cinemax (five if you count the Richard Armitage-led season that aired in the States as Strike Back: Origins), Strike Back found a passionate fan base of TV viewers who love watching things go boom. The series was the premium network's first serious foray into original genre programming – which was a co-production with U.K.'s Sky-1 – and its success helped pave the way for various series that have followed, like Banshee, The Knick, Outcast, and most recently Quarry.
The series' appeal was as much for its two magnetic leads, Philip Winchester and Sullivan Stapleton, as it was for its globetrotting adventures and high-octane action sequences – many of which comprised large chunks of an episode's nearly 60-minute runtime. Those sequences became more complex and stylish as the series progressed, thanks to executive producer, director, and writer Michael J. Bassett, so that by the time the series wrapped in 2015, it left a considerable void for those justifying their Cinemax subscription with explosive set pieces and the sort of lasting camaraderie that only comes along once in a bro's life.
That void is about to be filled, however, as Deadline reports that Cinemax and Sky are once again teaming to reboot the Strike Back series, with plans to begin filming sometime in 2017. Though the term reboot is being tossed around, it sounds more like the series will follow in the footsteps of the Winchester-Stapleton restart that kept the previous storyline as part of its canon. This new series aims to see the Section program reinstated to – no surprise here – track down dangerous terrorists. This time however, the impetus for the new team will be a prison break that requires a team with a very special set of skills in order to track down the escapees.
The series has already assembled its core cast, with Luther co-star Warren Brown, Daniel MacPherson (The Shannara Chronicles), Roxanne McKee (Game of Thrones, Dominion), and Alin Sumarwata (Neighbours) as the new members of the Section task force. Sumarwata will play Gracie Novin, who is described as "a gear-head who is looking to make the step up. She’s the heart and soul of the team." MacPherson is playing Samuel Wyatt "a bar-room philosopher who works best alone and has no intention of being dragged into a team situation," while McKee takes on the role of Natalie Roberts, a woman who "comes from a military family and excels at psychological profiles." And lastly, Brown will take on Daniel "Mac" Macallister (because there has to be someone who's surname has been shortened into a nickname), "a man of his word who is driven by a desire to avenge the team he’s lost."
It sounds as though the project is fairly far along if the producers already have a character list and core cast ready to go. That's not too surprising, as it turns out former Strike Back writer Jack Lothian is on hand to pen the new series and serve as showrunner. Having Lothian as part of both series will likely be a big plus in maintaining a sense of consistency between this new iteration and the former show. With any luck, that consistency will extend to the show's visuals and penchant for crafting fast-paced, dynamic action sequences.
There's no word on whether or not Winchester and Stapleton plan to reprise their roles as Sgt. Michael Stonebridge and Sgt. Damien Scott, respectively, but there is reportedly a chance for a guest spot somewhere down the line if the show feels the need to officially pass the torch.
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Strike Back will air in the U.S. on Cinemax. Screen Rant will have more details for you as they develop.
Source: Deadline