Steal is a British crime-thriller television series created by Sotiris Nikias for Amazon Prime Video, and produced by Drama Republic in association with Amazon MGM Studios. Starring Sophie Turner, Archie Madekwe, and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, the six-episode limited series premiered globally on 21 January 2026.
Set inside London’s high-finance ecosystem, Steal blends a meticulously staged office heist with a conspiracy thriller that questions who really controls money, power, and accountability. Since release, the show has trended across Prime Video territories and sparked discussion for its tense pacing, morally grey characters, and headline-friendly premise.
Series Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Genre | Crime, Thriller, Drama |
| Created by | Sotiris Nikias |
| Directors | Sam Miller, Hettie Macdonald |
| Episodes | 6 |
| Runtime | ~50 minutes each |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Platform | Amazon Prime Video |
| Release Date | 21 January 2026 |
Premise: A Heist That Shakes the Financial System
At the center of Steal is Zara Dunne, a mid-level trade processor at Lochmill Capital, a pension fund management firm housed in London’s iconic financial district. What begins as a routine workday escalates into chaos when a highly trained gang of armed robbers storms the office, takes employees hostage, and forces through trades worth over £4 billion in a matter of minutes.
The robbery’s precision suggests insider knowledge—and that suspicion falls squarely on Zara and her colleague Luke Selborn. As the investigation unfolds, Steal reveals a far-reaching conspiracy involving corporate executives, intelligence agencies, politicians, and global tax havens, blurring the lines between victim and accomplice.
Main Cast and Characters
Lead Roles
- Sophie Turner as Zara Dunne — a trade processor whose survival depends on intelligence, deception, and hard choices
- Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as DCI Rhys “Rhys” Covaci — the lead investigator with personal demons and mounting pressure from above
- Archie Madekwe as Luke Selborn — Zara’s colleague, whose role in the heist proves more complicated than expected
Supporting & Recurring Cast
- Jonathan Slinger as London, leader of the robbers
- Andrew Howard as Sniper / Morgan Trahern
- Ellie James as DI Ellie Lloyd
- Patrick O’Kane as DSU Duff Nichols
- Harry Michell as Milo Carter-Walsh
- Anastasia Hille as Haley Dunne
- Andrew Koji as Darren Yoshida
- Anna Maxwell Martin as a senior MI5 official
- Simon Bird as Oliver Davies
- Peter de Jersey as Chancellor Andrew Bains
The ensemble is one of the series’ biggest strengths, with nearly every character operating in morally ambiguous territory.
Episode Guide (All Episodes Released Together)
| Episode | Title | Director | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fill or Kill | Sam Miller | The heist unfolds; £4 billion vanishes |
| 2 | Face Value | Sam Miller | Insider links revealed; crypto payments |
| 3 | Short Run | Sam Miller | Flashbacks expose the setup |
| 4 | Risk On | Hettie Macdonald | MI5 enters the game |
| 5 | Pay Yourself First | Hettie Macdonald | Betrayals and political exposure |
| 6 | Dead Cat Bounce | Hettie Macdonald | Truth, consequences, and fallout |
Production and Filming
Developed by Drama Republic, Steal was conceived as a grounded financial thriller rather than a stylized heist show. Filming began in London in May 2024, with real financial district locations used to heighten authenticity.
Director Sam Miller, known for character-driven thrillers, helmed the first three episodes, establishing the show’s tense visual language. Hettie Macdonald directed the latter half, leaning into the psychological and political consequences of the crime.
Ending Explained
Without revealing major spoilers, Steal concludes by turning the genre on its head. Instead of offering a clean victory or total justice, the finale exposes how systems protect themselves, often sacrificing individuals in the process. While the stolen money is technically recovered, the truth about who benefited—and who paid the price—remains disturbingly unresolved.
The final moments suggest that even when crimes are “solved,” power structures remain intact, making the series feel uncomfortably realistic.
Critical Reception
Steal opened to generally favorable reviews, with critics praising its performances and thematic ambition.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 75% approval rating
- Metacritic: 64/100 (generally favorable)
The Guardian awarded the show 4/5 stars, highlighting the writing and cast chemistry. The Telegraph also gave it 4 stars, calling it “smart, tense, and unsettling.”
Variety described the series as “an intense watch” anchored by Sophie Turner’s performance, while The Hollywood Reporter praised the pilot but felt later episodes struggled to maintain momentum.
Why Steal Is Trending on Google Discover
Several factors have helped Steal gain traction on Google Discover and social feeds:
- Sophie Turner’s return to high-profile television
- A timely focus on financial inequality and elite corruption
- A binge-friendly six-episode format
- Real-world parallels to financial scandals and tax havens
The show’s blend of crime, politics, and economic anxiety resonates strongly with contemporary audiences.
Will There Be a Season 2?
As of now, Steal is marketed as a limited series, and Amazon Prime Video has not announced a second season. However, the open-ended nature of the finale and strong viewership numbers leave room for continuation if demand remains high.
Final Verdict
Steal is not a flashy, escapist heist drama—it’s a measured, unsettling thriller that asks difficult questions about power, money, and morality. With strong performances, especially from Sophie Turner, and a premise ripped from modern financial anxieties, the series stands out as one of Prime Video’s most talked-about releases of 2026.
For viewers who enjoy intelligent crime dramas with real-world relevance, Steal is well worth the watch.