or


[10/11/13 - 08:10 AM]
Six-Part Prequel "Strike Back: Origins," Starring Richard Armitage and Andrew Lincoln, Debuts Oct. 25 on Cinemax
Originally titled "Chris Ryan's Strike Back," the U.K. season one of the show was based on the book series of the same name by former British Special Forces soldier Ryan.

[via press release from Cinemax]

SIX-PART PREQUEL "STRIKE BACK: ORIGINS," STARRING RICHARD ARMITAGE AND ANDREW LINCOLN, DEBUTS OCT. 25 ON CINEMAX

STRIKE BACK: ORIGINS begins its six-episode run FRIDAY, OCT. 25 (10:00-10:50 p.m. ET/PT) on CINEMAX, marking the first time the series will be seen in the United States. Taking over the Friday-night time slot of "Strike Back" after it completes its third season on Oct. 18, STRIKE BACK: ORIGINS stars Richard Armitage ("The Hobbit" film series, "Robin Hood") and Andrew Lincoln ("The Walking Dead").

The inspiration for CINEMAX's hit action series "Strike Back," STRIKE BACK: ORIGINS was presented on Sky in the UK in 2010. It was acquired by HBO/CINEMAX from BBC Worldwide Sales and Distribution and produced by Left Bank Pictures and Ingenious Broadcasting. Left Bank Pictures currently produces "Strike Back" with partners CINEMAX and Sky.

Originally titled "Chris Ryan's Strike Back," the UK season one of the show was based on the book series of the same name by former British Special Forces soldier Ryan.

Daniel Percival directed the first four episodes of STRIKE BACK: ORIGINS. He co-executive produced the first season of CINEMAX's "Strike Back," for which he also directed four episodes. He also directed two episodes of CINEMAX's thriller series "Hunted" and HBO Films' "Dirty War," as well as episodes of "The State Within," "Death Comes to Pemberley" and "Crossing Lines."

STRIKE BACK: ORIGINS tells the story of John Porter (Armitage), an SAS (UK Special Forces) soldier who discovers a connection between a current hostage situation and a mission he ran in Iraq in 2003. He appeals to Hugh Collinson (Lincoln), a fellow team member from that mission who now runs the stealth counterterrorism unit Section 20 for the UK government, to allow him to join the rescue. Porter and Collinson have gone in sharply different directions in the years since their original mission went awry, with one enjoying a successful military career and the other's life falling apart.

Porter makes an appearance in the first season of CINEMAX's "Strike Back," during which he is captured on a mission. Section 20 head Col. Eleanor Grant (Amanda Mealing) brings in U.S. Special Forces soldier Damien Scott (Sullivan Stapleton) to work with Michael Stonebridge (Philip Winchester) and the team. Scott previously ran a mission with Porter in Iraq and had knowledge of their target, terrorist Latif.

STRIKE BACK: ORIGINS also stars Jodhi May ("Emma") as Section 20 member Layla Thompson, Colin Salmon ("Arrow") as Section 20 overseer James Middleton and Shelley Conn ("Terra Nova") as Section 20 member Danni Prendiville.

Guest stars include Orla Brady ("Fringe") at journalist Katie Dartmouth, Dhafer L'Abidine (CINEMAX's "Hunted") as Hakim Al Nazeri and Fenar Mohamnned-Ali ("Occupation") as As'ad.

Upcoming episodes:

Episode #1

Debut date: FRIDAY, OCT. 25 (10:00-10:50 p.m. ET/PT)

Other CINEMAX playdates: Oct. 25 (11:00 p.m.), 26 (9:10 p.m., 12:15 a.m.), 27 (noon, 11:00 p.m.), 28 (noon, 11:45 p.m.), 29 (12:10 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), 30 (8:00 p.m.) and 31 (9:00 p.m.)

British Special Forces attempt a risky rescue mission in Iraq on the eve of the 2003 invasion by allied forces. Led by SAS's John Porter (Richard Armitage) and joined by intelligence specialist Hugh Collinson (Andrew Lincoln), the team looks to rescue an executive of a British arms manufacturer who is being held by fundamentalists. While the mission is a success, several team members are killed. Porter is held responsible for their deaths due to a snap judgment call he made during the rescue.

Porter's career does not recover from the controversial mission. Now, in 2010, his personal life is also in shambles, and he has a strained relationship with his ex-wife and daughter.

After seeing the news that journalist Katie Dartmouth (Orla Brady) was kidnapped in Iraq, Porter realizes there is a connection to his 2003 operation. He seeks to join the rescue mission being run by the British government counterterrorism unit Section 20, which is headed up by Collinson. Although Collinson and his team members Thompson (Jodhi May) and Prendiville (Shelley Conn) have doubts, he assigns Porter to the mission.

In Iraq, things quickly go awry and Porter goes rogue to find the journalist, linking pieces of his previous mission to the new one.

Written by Jed Mercurio; directed by Daniel Percival.

Episode #2

Debut date: FRIDAY, NOV. 1 (10:00-10:50 p.m.)

Other CINEMAX playdates: Nov. 1 (11:00 p.m.), 2 (9:10 p.m., midnight), 3 (12:25 p.m.), 4 (12:50 p.m., 12:05 a.m.), 5 (11:30 a.m., 12:35 a.m.), 6 (8:00 p.m.) and 7 (9:00 p.m.)

In an attempt to infiltrate the fundamentalist group that kidnapped journalist Katie Dartmouth, Porter returns to the sites of his old mission, encountering familiar faces that lead him closer to finding her and into the hands of terrorists. Out of options, Collinson is forced to let Porter continue his risky pursuit, while Thompson tracks Porter as closely as possible.

Written by Jed Mercurio; directed by Daniel Percival.





  [october 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· STRIKE BACK (CINEMAX)





[10/28/25 - 02:07 PM]
"Sunday Night Football" on Record Pace Through Week 8, Averaging 24.7 Million Viewers on NBC and Peacock
Packers-Steelers audience peaked at 28.2 million viewers on NBC and Peacock in the second quarter (9:15-9:30 p.m. ET).

[10/28/25 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of October 20 - "A House of Dynamite" Hits the Target at No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
Plus: "Nobody Wants This," "The Elixir," and "The Monster of Florence" rise to the top in their opening weekends.

[10/28/25 - 12:01 PM]
ABC Announces 2026 Midseason Premiere Dates
Premiering Wednesday, February 25, ABC is scrubbing back in for Sacred Heart Hospital with back-to-back episodes of comedy "Scrubs" starring Zach Braff, Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke.

[10/28/25 - 12:00 PM]
Mark Harmon to Make Special Guest Appearance as Gibbs on "NCIS: Origins" During "NCIS" Crossover Event Tuesday, Nov. 11
In the crossover event airing on Veterans Day, younger Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and team investigate the small-town death of a naval officer in the '90s - a case that's unexpectedly re-opened in the present day.

[10/28/25 - 10:01 AM]
Hulu Renews Hit Emmy-Award Winning Comedy "Only Murders in the Building" for a Sixth Season!
The series will film overseas for the first time, with the beloved crime-solving trio leaving New York City to investigate London's newest mystery.

[10/28/25 - 10:01 AM]
HBO in Production on New Ronan Farrow Documentary Tracking Sprawling Criminal Case in Johnson City, Tennessee
The film chronicles a maze of revelations about Sean Williams of Johnson City, TN, a serial predator, tracing both his decades-long evasion of justice and an ensuing scandal over claims of corruption and systemic law enforcement failures.

[10/28/25 - 08:32 AM]
Peacock Sets Streaming Debut Dates for Focus Features' "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale," Universal's "Nobody 2" and DreamWorks Animation's "The Bad Guys 2"
The three films will roll out on successive Fridays beginning November 7.

[10/28/25 - 08:30 AM]
Epic New Landmark Natural History Series, "Kingdom," Set to Premiere Saturday, January 24 on BBC America and AMC+
Narrated by renowned naturalist and three-time Emmy Award-winner Sir David Attenborough, the major new six-part natural history series chronicles the dramatic real-life sagas of four African animal families, in one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by BBC Studios Natural History Unit.

[10/28/25 - 08:01 AM]
BBC Confirms Future of "Doctor Who" and a New Christmas Special in 2026
With Disney+ confirming they will not be partnering on the next season of the sci-fi show, the BBC remain fully committed to the show and will announce plans for the next series in due course to ensure the Doctor's adventures continue.

[10/28/25 - 07:09 AM]
Season 5 of ESPN Original Series "Peyton's Places," Presented by Elijah Craig Bourbon, Premieres November 2 Exclusively on ESPN+
Josh Allen, Jason Kelce, Jim Harbaugh, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Joe Burrow, Boomer Esiason, Chad Johnson, and more are among the featured guests.

[10/28/25 - 07:06 AM]
Get Ready to Switch - Again! Disney's "Freakier Friday" Streaming Exclusively November 12 on Disney+
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprise their roles in this hilarious sequel.

[10/28/25 - 07:01 AM]
"One Piece" Season 2 Premieres March 10, 2026
Additionally, Netflix revealed a first look at Drum Island.

[10/28/25 - 06:47 AM]
Prime Video Takes the Spotlight with Its New "Karaoke Club" Show, A Celebrity Singing Tour
Hosted by the hilarious Stéphane Rousseau, the series transforms karaoke into an electrifying experience where the stars deliver their signature style with humor, energy, and, above all, a whole lot of fun.

[10/28/25 - 06:31 AM]
"Michelle Obama: The Style, the Power, the Look - a Conversation with Robin Roberts - Special Edition of 20/20" Airs Sunday, Nov. 2, on ABC, Streaming Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
The "Good Morning America" co-anchor joins Obama at Marymount University in Virginia in advance of her upcoming book, "The Look" - a celebration of style from the moment she entered the public eye - to discuss the lessons she's sharing about her newfound confidence and empowerment.

[10/28/25 - 06:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "The Future Is Ours," A Dystopian Limited Series Starring Enzo Vogrincic, Emiliano Zurita, Delfina Chaves, Marleyda Soto and Marco Antonio Caponi
The series will be the first audiovisual adaptation of renowned American writer Philip K. Dick's work in Spanish.