You might be wondering how it is that Catherine Zeta-Jones stays so busy. From the highly acclaimed Tim Burton show Wednesday to upcoming thriller Kill Jackie, it seems that the mega star is just hitting her pace. And the truth is, she could and should and would. There is a reason why Catherine Zeta-Jones stays so busy, after all. She’s just good. So good. Who knew that what I’ve been missing all these years is a revenge thriller with the actress?
An ex-cocaine drug lord turned unscrupulous art dealer? I’m here for it. Let me introduce you to Jackie Price. The Zeta-Jones character leads a glamorous life of crime that involves high-rise buildings and a collection of silk that lends its space to a wall of weapons. Life seems to be going well for this diva crime boss until someone puts a hit on her head. All at once, she finds herself dodging assassins. Jackie Price is left scrambling to find the culprit of her demise. The demons creep out from the shadows of her old life as the woman ticks off adversaries, leaving a trail of blood in her wake. But Jackie can’t help but enjoy a little mischief, and this recent escapade of strategy and battle reminds her of who she once was. Perhaps the killer instinct never left at all, just simply lay dormant all these years, hushed in a subconscious sleep. All at once, Jackie is alive again and quite literally ecstatic.
Kill Jackie is delightfully morbid and comedically dark. It feels like Kill Bill, reads like the quipy humor of Snatch, and radiates fashionable badassery like Atomic Blonde. Both brutal and seductive, Jackie Price is out for revenge, but never without a certain talent for style. This AMC show embraces the style fully with curated needle drops and an editing take as wild as its characters. Imagine a fake-tanned hand wrapped around an all-white pistol and pointed at a woman in heels, silks, and furs. What makes the show even more entertaining is Jackie’s lackadaisical attitude toward danger, which sends her somewhat pathetic lawyer (Daniel Ings) into a fit of hysterics.
In a media world filled with remakes and franchises, Kill Jackie is original. The colors are vibrant rather than that monotonous muddied palette of so many recent flicks. This show dares to be bold in both visuals and personality. The British ensemble beguiles us with whimsy in the most dire of moments, yet, slides those gut-check moments in with the ease of a knife-wielding assassin. There are some truly heart-wrenching scenes followed closely (and irreverently) with comical chaos. I can only assume that Director Damon Thomas, with writer and showrunner Tom Butterworth, and writer Conor Keane, are to blame for this genius. But let’s not forget, the upcoming show is based on the best-selling Nick Harkaway novel The Price You Pay, written under the pseudonym Aidan Truhen, and the writer served as a consultant on this project.
The eight-part series features a solid supporting cast which includes Daniel Ings (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Gentlemen), Sidse Babett Knudsen (Prime Target, Borgen), and Ron Perlman (Hellboy). Hattie Hook, who plays Jackie’s assistant, Charlie, also serves beautifully as a stimulant for Jackie’s more human characteristics. And comedy legend Julian Barrett of The Mighty Boosh makes an appearance, as well.
I can’t help but appreciate the wide range of characters Catherine Zeta-Jones has played throughout her career, from Goth Mom to Vaudeville. For this chapter, the actress enjoys a taste of life unhinged. I love her and this series, and you will too. If not for the playful chaos, then for the style. Because Jackie can make ‘em dance, and sometimes drop a few moves as well.
Kill Jackie debuts on AMC+ in the US on October 2, 2026.
