The new year has delivered a thrilling line-up of returning crime dramas, and ITV's fast-paced hit Red Eye has been a standout success. As the second series concludes, fans are eager to know if the adventures of DS Hana Li will continue. The good news is straight from the writer's room: a third series is firmly in the pipeline.
What We Know About Series Three
Writer and creator Peter A Dowling has provided exciting clarity on the show's future. He confirmed that there is "fuel in the tank" for another season and revealed the core trio of characters set to return. Jing Lusi will reprise her role as DS Hana Li, alongside Lesley Sharp as MI5 chief Madeline Delaney and Jemma Moore as journalist Jess Li.
Dowling, who comes from a background in American film, has always envisioned the show with a cinematic scale. "I treated the show like a six episode movie," he explained. This blockbuster approach has resonated with audiences, making Red Eye one of ITV's top ten dramas of 2024. On the plan for a third chapter, he stated ambitiously: "And in true movie form, we have to aim for Red Eye to be a trilogy."
The Journey So Far and What's Next
The second series, which aired its finale on Monday, 12 January 2026 at 9pm on ITV1, shifted the action from the aeroplane setting of series one to a tense lockdown at the US Embassy in London. The plot involved a murdered diplomatic courier, a stolen identity, and a killer infiltrating a high-profile ambassador's party.
Hana found herself partnered with Martin Compston's character, Agent Brody, the head of embassy security with whom she shares a complex history. While Compston guest-starred in this run, the pattern of introducing major guest stars each series—following Richard Armitage in season one—suggests another stellar name could join the cast for the new episodes.
Early Development and Fan Excitement
Executive producer Julie Gardner tempered immediate expectations by noting that development is in its early stages, but the foundation is solid. "We are at the beginning of the journey [of series 3]," she said. "There is a world, a lockbox location, there is a tight time frame... there is a story that I think Pete is excited to tell."
While no broadcast date has been announced, the confirmation that the beloved central characters of Hana, Delaney, and Jess will remain at the helm is sure to delight the show's dedicated fanbase. Viewers can anticipate another propulsive, high-concept thriller that has become the show's signature, as Dowling and his team plot the next explosive chapter in what is now confirmed to be a thrilling trilogy.
