Prime Video’s Adaptation Of Bestselling Crime Comics Can Be As Big As Sons Of Anarchy

Published Jul 25, 2026, 11:00 PM EDT Dhruv is a Lead Writer in Screen Rant's New TV division. He has been consistently contributing to the website for over two years and has written thousands of articles covering streaming trends, movie/TV analysis, and pop culture breakdowns. Before Screen Rant, he was a Senior Writer for The Cinemaholic, covering everything from anime to television, from reality TV to movies. After high school, he was on his way to become a Civil Engineer. However, he soon realized that writing was his true calling. As a result, he took a leap and never looked back. A TV adaptation of a bestselling comic book series is in the works on Prime Video, and a closer look at the show reveals how it has the potential to become the next Sons of Anarchy. Almost two decades have since Sons of Anarchy's premiere on the small screen. Yet, even after all these years, the show is hailed as one of the best modern crime dramas out there. Sons of Anarchy did not have a perfect seven-season run. The show experienced a few major hiccups throughout its runtime, highlighting why its overall Rotten Tomatoes score falls short of touching 90%. However, even during its relatively slower story beats, Sons of Anarchy remained immersive because of Charlie Hunnam's incredible portrayal of Jax Teller. After all these years, Hunnam is all set to return to the small screen for another promising crime drama. The crime drama, in question, adapts a highly acclaimed comic book series and has a lot going in its favor. If all goes well for the upcoming Prime Video crime drama, it could even match Sons of Anarchy's legacy and prove to be even better than the FX show. Prime Video Is Adapting Ed Brubaker’s Iconic Criminal Comics Prime Video is adapting Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips' Criminal comic book series, which is known for its incredible neo-noir storytelling, morally complex characters, and interconnected crime saga. What makes the adaptation particularly promising is that Ed Brubaker himself wrote its pilot script and serves as co-showrunner alongside acclaimed crime fiction author Jordan Harper. Criminal's directing slate also includes many high-caliber names like Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel, Masters of the Air) and Dee Rees (Mudbound). In season 1, the Prime Video crime drama is set to adapt the "Coward" and "Lawless" volumes of the source material. In these early chapters, Charlie Hunnam will play the main character, Leo Patterson, who is a well-known pickpocket and heist planner. He is commonly referred to as a "coward" because, unlike his father, he takes all the precautions in the world and avoids using weapons during his heists. The first arc of his story follows a heist-gone-wrong when he and his team get double-crossed by some cops. "Lawless" focuses on military deserter Tracy Lawless (played by Luke Evans), who sets out to seek revenge for his younger brother's murder. Apart from Charlie Hunnam and Luke Evans, the show's roster also includes other talented actors like Emilia Clarke, Gus Harper, and Richard Jenkins, among others. Prime Video’s Criminal Can Be As Big As Sons Of Anarchy For Charlie Hunnam ©FX/courtesy Everett Collection When it comes to movies, Charlie Hunnam has seemingly had quite a few hits or misses in the last couple of years. The Rebel Moon movies could have given him a new breakthrough, but they struggled to leave their mark. Even on the small screen, Hunnam initially struggled to make a comeback after Sons of Anarchy. Apple TV's Shantaram initially seemed promising, but it failed to impress viewers and critics. However, with Netflix's Monster, Hunnam recently gained a new wave of appreciation for his chilling portrayal of Ed Gein. Criminal will be his second TV outing after Sons of Anarchy, and it could give him another TV hit. Criminal already has a lot going in its favor. For instance, Ed Brubaker's direct involvement alone promises that the Prime Video series will be as good as the comics. Hunnam's history of playing morally ambiguous characters on the screen also makes him a perfect fit for the show's gritty world. Hopefully, like Sons of Anarchy, Prime Video's Criminal, too, will materialize into a long-running crime saga and finally give Charlie Hunnam another defining television role after a long time. Criminal Network Prime Video Showrunner Ed Brubaker, Jordan Harper Writers Ed Brubaker Based on the comic series, Criminal is an action crime series developed by Ed Brubaker and Jordan Harper for Prime Video. This adaptation follows various characters within and adjacent to a bustling criminal underworld and comprises several arcs that occasionally intersect. The series was greenlit by Amazon in 2024. Sons of Anarchy 8/10 Release Date 2008 - 2014 Network FX Sons of Anarchy is centered around the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original (SAMCRO), exploring the tensions between President Clay and Vice President Jax in the town of Charming. The narrative focuses on their differing visions for the club's operations, blending legal and illegal enterprises. Showrunner Kurt Sutter Writers Dave Erickson, Misha Green, Liz Sagal, Regina Corrado, Mike Daniels, Kem Nunn, Roberto Patino, Gladys Rodríguez, Peter Elkoff, Marco Ramirez, James D. Parriott, Julie Busher, Pat Charles, Stevie Long, David Labrava, Vaun Wilmott Seasons 7