Blab Entertainment
Anna Kendrick Takes on Action Thriller Lead in MGM+ Series Embassy
From the playful rhythms of Pitch Perfect to the brooding world of The Accountant, Anna Kendrick is pivoting into a new arena—action‑thriller. In a move that could redefine her on‑screen persona, the 36‑year‑old actress will portray U.S. diplomat Layla in Embassy, a six‑episode series that MGM+ has ordered.
MGM+ announced the pickup on July 28 2026, but a premiere date remains undisclosed. The show was created by Rom Lotan and will see the direction of John Strickland and Christian Alvart. Kendrick stars alongside Sam Heughan, known for his decade‑long run as Jamie Fraser in Outlander, and veteran actor J.K. Simmons, who first worked with Kendrick in The Accountant.
Embassy follows Layla as she navigates a crisis at the London embassy when mercenaries storm the compound. She must decide whether to shield the U.S. ambassador—played by Simmons—or obey orders to extract a high‑value asset. Heughan portrays a former fiancé of Layla’s who now serves as a British SAS soldier, adding a personal stake to the tense narrative. The six‑part arc was filmed on location in Cologne, Germany, and London, England, and will air on MGM+ in the United States. Prime Video has secured rights to stream the series in six territories.
Kendrick’s shift into a live‑action lead on television follows a career that began with musical comedies and teenage romance. She first captured mainstream attention with Pitch Perfect (2012‑2017) and the Twilight saga (2008‑2011). Her recent dramatic roles include the sci‑fi thriller Stowaway (2021), the psychological thriller Alice, Darling (2023), and the Netflix crime drama Woman of the Hour (2023). In 2016 she appeared in the action film The Accountant and in 2018 in A Simple Favor. Embassy will be her first live‑action lead on television since the 2020‑2021 series Love Life.
Heughan, who has spent the last decade in a period‑action setting, has also appeared in contemporary action projects such as Bloodshot (2020). He announced his involvement with a brief Instagram post that read, “Excited for this one – epic cast.” Simmons, whose career spans supporting roles in both film and television—including Whiplash (2014) and The Accountant (2016)—brings a familiar dynamic to the ensemble.
MGM+, rebranded from Epix in January 2023 after Amazon’s acquisition of MGM, is expanding its original programming slate. Michael Wright, the global head of MGM+, described Embassy as an “exciting addition to the MGM+ slate—a high‑octane six‑part thriller with an exceptional cast and creative team.” The series is produced by AGC Television, Ascendant Fox, and Turbine Studios.
While the plot centers on a diplomatic crisis, the production and distribution strategy reflects MGM+’s broader goal of positioning the network as a destination for “classic storytelling for a modern audience.” The six‑episode run will test the network’s ability to deliver tightly paced, cinematic thrillers that can compete with other streaming platforms.
At present, Embassy remains in development with no official release date. The series is slated for a U.S. premiere on MGM+, but fans and industry observers will need to wait for further announcements regarding scheduling, marketing, and potential festival screenings.
The project illustrates how actors known for other genres can transition into action‑driven roles and highlights MGM+’s continued investment in original content that blends high‑concept storytelling with star power.
MGM+ announced the pickup on July 28 2026, but a premiere date remains undisclosed. The show was created by Rom Lotan and will see the direction of John Strickland and Christian Alvart. Kendrick stars alongside Sam Heughan, known for his decade‑long run as Jamie Fraser in Outlander, and veteran actor J.K. Simmons, who first worked with Kendrick in The Accountant.
Embassy follows Layla as she navigates a crisis at the London embassy when mercenaries storm the compound. She must decide whether to shield the U.S. ambassador—played by Simmons—or obey orders to extract a high‑value asset. Heughan portrays a former fiancé of Layla’s who now serves as a British SAS soldier, adding a personal stake to the tense narrative. The six‑part arc was filmed on location in Cologne, Germany, and London, England, and will air on MGM+ in the United States. Prime Video has secured rights to stream the series in six territories.
Kendrick’s shift into a live‑action lead on television follows a career that began with musical comedies and teenage romance. She first captured mainstream attention with Pitch Perfect (2012‑2017) and the Twilight saga (2008‑2011). Her recent dramatic roles include the sci‑fi thriller Stowaway (2021), the psychological thriller Alice, Darling (2023), and the Netflix crime drama Woman of the Hour (2023). In 2016 she appeared in the action film The Accountant and in 2018 in A Simple Favor. Embassy will be her first live‑action lead on television since the 2020‑2021 series Love Life.
Heughan, who has spent the last decade in a period‑action setting, has also appeared in contemporary action projects such as Bloodshot (2020). He announced his involvement with a brief Instagram post that read, “Excited for this one – epic cast.” Simmons, whose career spans supporting roles in both film and television—including Whiplash (2014) and The Accountant (2016)—brings a familiar dynamic to the ensemble.
MGM+, rebranded from Epix in January 2023 after Amazon’s acquisition of MGM, is expanding its original programming slate. Michael Wright, the global head of MGM+, described Embassy as an “exciting addition to the MGM+ slate—a high‑octane six‑part thriller with an exceptional cast and creative team.” The series is produced by AGC Television, Ascendant Fox, and Turbine Studios.
While the plot centers on a diplomatic crisis, the production and distribution strategy reflects MGM+’s broader goal of positioning the network as a destination for “classic storytelling for a modern audience.” The six‑episode run will test the network’s ability to deliver tightly paced, cinematic thrillers that can compete with other streaming platforms.
At present, Embassy remains in development with no official release date. The series is slated for a U.S. premiere on MGM+, but fans and industry observers will need to wait for further announcements regarding scheduling, marketing, and potential festival screenings.
The project illustrates how actors known for other genres can transition into action‑driven roles and highlights MGM+’s continued investment in original content that blends high‑concept storytelling with star power.
