Netflix Lands F1 Breakout Damson Idris for High-Stakes Political Thriller Series The Lords’ Day

Alright, so you might want to put any James Bond fantasies on the back burner for now, because Damson Idris (yeah, the guy everyone keeps name-dropping for 007) has already found himself a different kind of spy gig—one that sounds just as intense, if not way messier, than running around in a tux drinking martinis.

The Snowfall and Black Mirror alum—who also tore up the screen with Brad Pitt in last year’s completely bonkers and fun F1—is heading back to the UK. And this time, instead of zipping around racetracks, he’s going toe-to-toe with government hostage-takers in Netflix’s upcoming political thriller series, The Lords' Day.

Locked Down in the House of Lords

Here’s what’s going on: Idris is playing Harry Jones, a former spy who probably needs LinkedIn endorsements from both the good guys and the bad. This guy is not just any secret agent—he also happens to be an actual convicted traitor. (Because being trapped in the House of Lords during a terror siege clearly wasn’t stressful enough.)

On the day of Parliament’s big ceremonial kickoff—the State Opening—the UK government is taken hostage. The Palace of Westminster goes into lockdown. Rather than sipping tea and making small talk with real-life lords and baronesses, people are barricading doors and hoping they survive.

"The House of Lords is on lockdown, and the threat is inside the building."

Netflix describes this as ‘an electrifying ride through England’s halls of power.’ Translation: high stakes, lots of tension, and probably a pretty decent pile of bodies by the final episode.

Where Have I Heard This Before?

Funny thing—The Lords' Day is adapted from the novel by Michael Dobbs. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Dobbs is not only an actual member of the House of Lords in real life, but he also wrote the book behind Netflix’s House of Cards. This guy knows his way around political intrigue—both fiction and otherwise.

The Team Putting It All Together

The show is rolling out as a six-episode event. Here’s who’s in charge behind the scenes:

• Writers: Jonathan Brackley & Sam Vincent—these two already scored big with Humans (a seriously underappreciated sci-fi show), and they know their way around techno-thrillers and espionage thanks to their time on Spooks.
• Director: Ben Chanan, who previously did The Capture (another twisty British thriller that’s probably still giving people paranoia about their CCTV).
• Production: The show is being developed by Bad Wolf (no, not the Dr. Who reference, the legit British production house), in collaboration with the folks behind Humans.

Quick Explainer, Because UK Politics Is… Complicated

For anyone not living on the Isle, here’s the short version: the House of Lords is kind of like the American Senate, except you don’t get there by winning any popularity contests. Appointments, tradition, and a dash of old-school privilege—so yeah, there’s a reason it’s ripe for political thrillers.

The Premise, Straight from Netflix

Here’s the official rundown of the plot, just to make it clear how wild this is going to get:

'On the State Opening of Parliament, British spy Harry Jones (Damson Idris) finds himself inside the Palace of Westminster amid a lockdown. As a hostage siege escalates, loyalties are tested and selfless sacrifices are made, leading to a desperate fight for survival where not everyone will emerge alive. Can Harry use his skills and training to be the country’s savior?'

No Bond gadgets, no casinos, but a convicted spy trying to save a government locked in with its enemies? I’m in.

What’s Next?

There’s still no word on a premiere date, or the rest of the cast (presumably they’ll announce who else is running around the Parliament corridors soon). But if you’re looking for Damson Idris to become a full-on action hero lead—and Netflix to plant their flag in the ‘complex superspy’ territory—this feels like exactly the project to make it happen.

So, sorry Bond fans. Idris already has his own enemy-infested British landmark to save.