Charlie Hunnam’s New Crime Novel Adaptation Gets Rave Early Review From Creator As 2026 Release Remains In Doubt

Published Sep 1, 2026, 6:16 PM EDT Growing up around performers, storytelling was always central to Emma's life. Add in a nerdy older brother who introduced her to Marvel at far too young an age, and her love for entertainment led her to pursue a Journalism degree at Indiana University, where she discovered her passion for entertainment reporting. She spent nearly one year in Los Angeles covering industry stories and fully immersing herself in the world of entertainment media. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Criminal co-creator Sean Phillips pushes back against concerns surrounding the Prime Video adaptation’s missing release date. The crime drama is based on the acclaimed comic books written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Sean Phillips. Despite assembling an impressive cast and completing production, the upcoming Prime Video series still does not have an announced release date. That silence has understandably left some viewers concerned about the adaptation’s fate. However, Phillips has now pushed back against speculation that the delay indicates Amazon lacks confidence in the series. Responding to a skeptical comment on Instagram, Phillips clarified that revealing the premiere date is entirely Amazon’s decision. More importantly, he shared an encouraging assessment of the finished series: "It’s for Amazon to announce the release date, not me. And they love the show! As do I, I couldn’t be more pleased with how it’s turned out." Phillips is not only the artist and co-creator behind the original comics, but also an executive producer on the adaptation. While his comments do not reveal when Criminal will arrive, they offer much-needed reassurance that the show remains in Amazon’s plans. Hunnam leads the Prime Video series as Leo Patterson, a highly intelligent professional thief who carefully plans his jobs and prefers to avoid guns and violence. The role returns Hunnam to the world of television crime more than a decade after Sons of Anarchy ended. However, Leo’s methodical approach should make him noticeably different from Jax Teller, the increasingly volatile biker Hunnam played for seven seasons. Prime Video ordered Criminal to series in January 2024. Brubaker wrote the pilot and serves as co-showrunner alongside acclaimed crime novelist Jordan Harper. The story follows several generations of interconnected families whose lives remain shaped by crimes and murders from the past. The expansive ensemble includes Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones star) as Mallory, a daring armed robber, and Adria Arjona (Andor) as Greta, an expert car thief and driver. Richard Jenkins, J Logan Browning, Kadeem Hardison, Luke Evans, Garrett Hedlund, and Michael Mando are also among the show’s sizable cast. Phillips is an executive producer, so his comments are not the same as an independent critical review. Even so, his approval carries real weight. He and Brubaker have spent two decades building Criminal’s characters, atmosphere, and complicated network of damaged families. If Phillips feels the adaptation honors that world, longtime readers have a meaningful reason to remain optimistic. Brubaker’s direct involvement is equally reassuring. Comic creators are not always given significant control when their work moves to the screen, but Criminal has one of its original architects serving as a writer and showrunner. Brubaker has also said that he is proud of the finished result and believes it feels like the comics brought to life. Prime Video's Criminal is still waiting for an official release date.