Emilia Clarke’s ‘fresh, propulsive’ ’70s-set thriller, packed with plot twists gets UK air date

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The spy thriller Ponies, starring Emilia Clarke, will premiere in the UK and Ireland on Friday, May 22nd. The eight-episode series, which first aired in the US in January 2026, will be available on Sky and the streaming platform NOW, and also features Haley Lu Richardson of The White Lotus.

This spy thriller takes place in Moscow in 1977. It centers around two women initially working as secretaries at the American Embassy, considered unremarkable by intelligence agencies. However, their lives change dramatically when their husbands are mysteriously killed in the Soviet Union, leading the women to become CIA operatives.

The roles of the ponies will be played by Clarke and Richardson. Clarke will portray Bea, a highly educated woman who grew up as the child of Russian immigrants and speaks Russian fluently. Richardson will play Twila, a fearless and outspoken woman from a small town.

Working as a team, they investigate a large-scale conspiracy from the Cold War era and finally discover the truth behind their husbands’ deaths.

The series Ponies is getting great reviews, currently holding a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have particularly enjoyed the chemistry between Richardson and Clarke, and ScreenRant describes the show as a fast-paced, exciting spy thriller full of unexpected twists.

Richardson told Esquire that landing the role felt perfectly destined, saying it was the most she’d ever felt like she was exactly where she needed to be, doing what she was meant to do.

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She explained that she immediately connected with the character, recognizing its significance to her own life. She felt she wasn’t ready to play the role just months before, but at this moment, it perfectly aligned with her personal journey of facing, healing, and expressing her own emotions.

Joining Clarke and Richardson in this 1970s thriller are Adrian Lester, known for Trigger Point; Artjom Gilz (Tar), Vic Michaelis (Very Important People), Nicholas Podany (Hello Tomorrow), and Petro Ninovskyi (Silence).

David Iserson, known for New Girl, and Susanna Fogel, who worked on The Flight Attendant, created, wrote, and executive produced the series together. Mike Daniels, Jessica Rhoades, and Emilia Clarke also serve as executive producers. Jared Ian Goldman, Alison Mo Massey, Katherine Bridle, and Rosa Handelman are co-executive producers.

Ponies will debut in the UK and Ireland on Friday 22 May on Sky and streaming service NOW.

The latest issue of Living Legends, a beautifully illustrated 100-page tribute to Sir David Attenborough, is now available! You can find it at newsstands or purchase it online.

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2026-04-24 15:49