Red Eye season 2: everything we know about potential sequel

ITV have confirmed the Red Eye season 2 is winging its way to our screens after the first series proved a hit with viewers. 

Jing Lusi will return as DS Hana Li with a new conspiracy to solve, while Lesley Sharp and Jemma Moore will also reprise their roles as Head of MI5 Madeline Delaney and journalist Jess Li.

However it looks like Richard Armitage, who played Dr Matthew Nolan in the first series, won’t be a part of the upcoming sequel… 

The first series of the high-octane drama followed Dr Nolan as he was embroiled in an international conspiracy after being arrested at Heathrow and extradited back to Beijing on trumped up charges. 

London-based detective, DC Hana Li was tasked with accompanying him on the flight back to China, yet it wasn’t long before people started dying in suspicious circumstances during the journey.

Before long, Nolan and Li realised they were at the centre of a worldwide nuclear-based conspiracy, facing a battle to survive. 

Here’s everything we know about Peter A Dowling’s six-part sequel… 

Red Eye season 2 release date

ITV has confirmed that filming will commence in 2025, meaning this one will most likely have a release date of some time in 2026. We’ll let you know when we hear more. 

Red Eye season 2 plot

Details are very thin on the ground when it comes to the plot of Red Eye season 2, with ITV simply confirming that DC Hana Li will have a ‘new conspiracy’ to solve. 

Peter A Dowling admitted the first series was inspired by the Jodie Foster film Flightplan, but it looks unlikely he’ll be taking us back to into the skies in this sequel.

Whatever crisis DC Li faces, she’s certain to have help from Head of MI5 Madeline Delaney (Lesley Sharp) and journalist Jess Li (Jess Moore). 

We had been excited about the prospect of Dr Matthew Nolan being used as an asset by the British intelligence services, but Richard Armitage not returning that now looks unlikely… Shame!  

Red Eye season 2 cast

Gangs of London star Jing Lusi, who plays DC Hana Li, will lead the new series and told the press she viewed her character as a ‘turning point’ for British Asian representation. “I think there is definitely more story to tell,” she said after the launch of the first series. 

Jemma Moore (Lockwood & Co), who starred as Hana’s sister, budding journalist Jess Li, will also be back, while Lesley Sharp (The Full Monty) who played MI5 Director General Madeline Delaney, will also return. 

“I think what Peter A Dowling has created with this season of Red Eye is fantastically complete in and of itself, but I think what he’s also managed to do is set up very compelling characters,” Sharp told the press. 

“I’d be very happy to step into Madeline Delaney’s Manolo Blahniks and trot up and down the corridors of MI5.”

ITV have also confirmed that news on other guest casting will be available closer to filming, so we’ll update this page as soon as we hear something.

Sadly Richard Armitage (The Stranger & Stay Close) won’t be returning, but it probably makes sense for his character to depart as his story had already been told. What’s more, he’d have to be tremendously unfortunate to get caught up in another political conspiracy!

Red Eye season 2 trailer

The second series hasn’t begun filming yet, so it will be a long time until a trailer lands online, yet we’ll be sure to keep you updated!