12 12 12: Anthony Mackie’s New 8-Part Heist Thriller Is Heat Meets James Bond

Published Nov 9, 2026, 4:20 PM EST Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 3000 articles at SR, including weekly recommendation guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions. Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston. Anthony Mackie faces a career criminal in Apple TV’s new 8-part heist thriller, combining a high-stakes vault robbery with an international chase. Set to release its 2-part premiere this Friday, November 13, this gripping crime thriller is one of ScreenRant's top picks for the best new Apple TV series worth watching this week. It marks the Emmy-nominated actor and Marvel Cinematic Universe star's first return to TV since the dystopian sci-fi Peacock series Twisted Metal debuted in 2023, making it a can't-miss streaming event this week on Apple TV. 12 12 12 starring Anthony Mackie premieres this week on Apple TV, combining the heist thriller elements of Michael Mann's classic masterpiece Heat with an international cat-and-mouse game across Europe similar to James Bond. It's one of the most exciting new releases this week across all streaming platforms thanks to Mackie's star performance alongside BAFTA TV-nominated actor Jamie Dornan, known for The Fall and the Fifty Shades franchise. Spanning eight sharp episodes, 12 12 12 is positioned to become Apple TV's most popular series this week, as it looks to claim the streamer's #1 viewership spot from the star-studded serial killer thriller Nocturne. 12 12 12 Pits Anthony Mackie Against Jamie Dornan In An International Chase 12 12 12 may sound like an obscure title for a heist thriller series until you understand the meaning behind the numerical sequence. Rather than symbolizing the calendar date or some type of cryptic code, 12 12 12 has a very simple meaning, as explained by Mackie's FBI agent protagonist, Jack Strickland, in Apple TV's official trailer. According to Jack, the FBI's principles of crime say every high-asset robbery takes 12 months to plan and 12 hours to execute. If the robbers haven't been caught in 12 days, they are not caught at all. This framework still applies to the biggest banking heist in the history of Europe, which sparks the unfolding action in the new Apple TV series. This is where Dornan's antagonist, Paul Galvin, comes into play. Paul is a sophisticated career criminal from the United States who steals a fortune from a luxury bank in Zurich, Switzerland, which sends Jack on a mission across Europe to apprehend him before he slips into the shadows. Paul is assisted by a trustworthy team to pull off the heist, including his brother, Bobby, played by Jack Kesy, best known from HBO's crime drama Task. Jack and Paul's rivalry is the perfect example of an unstoppable force clashing with an immovable object, as Jack will stop at nothing to finally deliver justice to the elusive Paul, who cleverly remains one step ahead throughout the investigation. Apple TV’s New Heist Thriller Blends Heat’s Crime Drama With James Bond’s Global Action Apple TV Like many heist thrillers before it, 12 12 12 is primarily centered on the execution of an elaborate robbery and the aftermath driven by passionate members of law enforcement. Although Heat was released more than 30 years ago, it continues to set the gold standard of the modern heist genre, which inevitably places all new installments in its wake under its formidable shadow. While it remains to be seen whether 12 12 12 can match the intensity and brilliance of Heat, its gripping crime thriller elements and A-list cast already make it worthy of comparison, paralleling Al Pacino's detective Vincent Hanna hunting down Robert De Niro's sophisticated thief Neil McCauley. Instead of taking place on the hot streets of Los Angeles, 12 12 12 introduces a globetrotting element in its cat-and-mouse pursuit that is a signature feature of many a James Bond movie. With its various locations around Europe, 12 12 12 possesses the geographical scope of a Bond film, especially given its Switzerland-based starting point, which has been featured in 007 classics like Goldfinger and GoldenEye. Expect 12 12 12 to also heavily lean into the action genre as Jack relentlessly searches for Paul, albeit without the same trademark degree of espionage. With its riveting premise, outstanding lead actors, and high-stakes tension, 12 12 12 is a must-watch on Apple TV this week. 12 12 12 Release Date November 12, 2026 Network Apple TV Directors Ellen Kuras, Takeshi Fukunaga, Kari Skogland Writers Joe Murtagh Cast Agathe Rousselle Severine