Will there be a Red Eye season 3?
The ITV thriller has just dropped its latest chapter – but will Hana see action again?
Red Eye has only just returned to our screens, but already some eager binge-watchers will be wondering whether the hit drama series has a future on ITV1 and ITVX.
The series follows DC Hana Li (Jing Lusi), a Metropolitan Police detective who has twice found herself in the middle of a diplomatic crisis, with the latest incident taking place inside London's US embassy.
Martin Compston (Line of Duty) joined the Red Eye cast for season 2, playing a contentious figure from Hana's past (and filling the shoes of the show's former co-lead Richard Armitage).
There are plenty of possibilities for future Red Eye stories from screenwriter Peter A Dowling, but whether any of these will become reality remains uncertain for now. Here's what we know so far.
Will there be a Red Eye season 3?
ITV is yet to confirm whether Red Eye has been renewed for season 3 or cancelled, but we're likely to get an answer sometime in the next few months. Watch this space for updates.
The first season was a runaway success for the broadcaster, with the premiere episode reaching more than 8 million viewers across all devices – but can the sequel retain this momentum?
Notably, the show has lost a major star in Richard Armitage, whose popularity has only grown over his multiple Harlan Coben collaborations on Netflix, but Martin Compston is a strong choice to fill the void he left behind.
The drama has also returned at a time of intense TV competition, with BBC One premiering the long-awaited second season of The Night Manager, while Netflix is bidding farewell to Stranger Things in a feature-length finale.
Fortunately, Red Eye season 2 is available to stream on ITVX at a pace of your choice, so some viewers may choose to circle back to it later in January – meaning a clear picture of its ratings may take a while to form.
When could a potential Red Eye season 3 be released?
If Red Eye does score a renewal from ITV, we'd anticipate another production cycle of approximately 18 months, which would suggest a premiere date in summer/autumn 2027.
We'll update this page when concrete details emerge.
Who could star in a potential Red Eye season 3?
If Red Eye does return for season 3, it seems highly likely that Jing Lusi will return to the lead role of DC Hana Li, but it's less obvious which actor will be by her side.
The first season co-starred Richard Armitage as embattled doctor Matthew Nolan, while the second enlisted Martin Compston as the US embassy's security chief Clay Brody.
It's possible that writer Peter A Dowling will continue with this approach moving forward, adding a new co-star for Lusi in each season, with Hana Li as the central figure connecting each story.
Red Eye season 2 also saw the return of Lesley Sharp (MI5's Madeline Delaney), Robert Gilbert (Supt. O'Brien), Cash Holland (Ruth Banks), Steph Lacey (Megan Campbell) and Jonathan Aris (John Tennant).
Here's a reminder of the key players:
- Jing Lusi as Detective Hana Li
- Lesley Sharp as Madeline Delaney
- Martin Compston as Clay Brody
- Jemma Moore as Jess Li
- Robert Gilbert as Supt. Simon O'Brien
- Tom Forbes as Fox
- Cash Holland as Ruth Banks
- Jonathan Aris as John Tennant
- Steph Lacey as Megan Campbell
- Nicholas Rowe as DSEC Alex Peterson
- Trevor White as US Ambassador Ronald Tillman
- Isaura Barbe-Brown as DCM Cece Redding
- Danusia Samal as Captain Sarah Wright
- Guy Williams as Air Marshal John Johnson
What could happen in a potential Red Eye season 3?
If Red Eye returns for season 3, we can expect Peter A Dowling to cook up another high-stakes international thriller, in which DC Hana Li must race to save lives and avert a political catastrophe.
Both seasons 1 and 2 have involved a jeopardised long-haul flight, from which the show derives its title, but it's possible that future stories could see all characters grounded to avoid repetition.
Is there a Red Eye season 3 trailer?
Alas, there's no new footage to share just yet – we'll update this page if that changes.
Red Eye is available to stream on ITVX.
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Authors
David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.
