Prisoner star reveals how being handcuffed to The Serpent star built “organic and real chemistry”

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Okay, so imagine being chained to someone for four months – not ideal, right? But now picture that person being your new co-star, someone you suddenly have to build chemistry with and do action scenes alongside. That’s not just a challenge, that’s a whole other level of complicated! As a film buff, I can already see the potential for some incredible on-screen (and off-screen!) dynamics.

Izuka Hoyle (Big Boys) and Tahar Rahim (The Serpent), the lead actors in Sky’s new thriller series Prisoner, worked together on set. The series was created by Matt Charman, who also wrote Hostage.

But how did being cuffed together impact the role, if at all?

In an interview with TopMob, Hoyle explained that working closely with Tahar presented unique challenges, but also created a surprising intimacy. They met during stunt rehearsals and, without a formal introduction, were immediately paired together in a physically close way – essentially, they said hello and were then handcuffed to each other.

Fortunately, we have great chemistry, and I think that really comes across on screen. We developed a natural and genuine connection, which made the challenging scenes enjoyable. It was a lot of fun working together!

I was first attracted to the script because of its immediate appeal. When you briefly explain the story, people instantly want to see it! The hook – two characters handcuffed together – is fantastic. What’s really interesting is how we explore morality through a variety of characters and situations, placing them at very different points on the moral spectrum.

The idea was to link these two characters together – physically with handcuffs, but also with a shared goal. This setup would allow us to examine how quickly their views on right and wrong evolve, particularly focusing on how his sociopathic nature impacts that change. We also wanted to see how their opinions of each other – and consequently, their understanding of the world – shift as a result of being forced to cooperate.

Rahim discussed the challenges of filming intense stunt scenes while physically connected to his co-star. He explained that being handcuffed added a layer of difficulty, but praised the stunt team for being creative, collaborative, and receptive to new ideas.

Izuka and I were constantly working together, carefully planning and coordinating all of our movements. Luckily, Izuka is naturally talented and physically strong, which really helped. I realized the best approach was to simply move with her and think of it as a dance. To me, acting with someone is a lot like dancing – it’s about listening to each other, sensing what the other person is doing, and reacting accordingly.

Spending four months handcuffed to someone while filming could have been awful, but Izuka is a wonderful person. We connected immediately and became close friends – she’s someone I really enjoy being with. It was a truly great experience.

The series centers on Amber Hoyle, a prison officer returning from maternity leave to a chaotic situation. While transporting dangerous hitman Tibor Rahim to court, she and he are unexpectedly attacked and become the only people left alive. Forced to rely on each other to survive, their moral compasses begin to shift as they fight to escape.

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All episodes of Prisoner will be available on Thursday 30 April on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing and freelancing, and holds a BA degree in English Literature.

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2026-04-29 19:39