Fans eagerly awaiting new content from The Terminal List franchise have a compelling reason to celebrate. A brand-new prequel series, set in the same universe as the 2022 military action thriller starring Chris Pratt and Taylor Kitsch, is set to debut soon on Prime Video.
The Terminal List: Shadow of the Wolf is a fresh installment that explores the origins of the story, serving as a prequel to The Terminal List. Scheduled for release on Prime Video on August 27, this series delves into the backstory of Ben Edwards, portrayed by Taylor Kitsch, as he transitions from Navy SEAL to a covert operative within the CIA’s clandestine operations, according to the official synopsis. Chris Pratt also returns, reprising his role as James Reece in a supporting capacity.
According to USA Today, Shadow of the Wolf chronicles Ben Edwards’ departure from the Navy SEALs, which propels him into the shadowy world of CIA black ops. As Kitsch explains to USA Today, “A single split-second decision altered the entire trajectory of his life. It’s not just about removing the uniform; it’s about stripping away a part of his identity and purpose.”
The series is created by acclaimed author Jack Carr, who penned the original novels, along with showrunner David DiGilio. It is designed to seamlessly lead into the first season of The Terminal List. Additionally, a second season of the main series is already in development, with the announcement made in January 2024 accompanied by a teaser poster confirming the return of both Kitsch and Pratt.
Fans familiar with The Terminal List will recall the intense climax where, spoiler alert, Pratt’s James Reece kills Ben after uncovering his role in sabotaging a mission in Syria that resulted in the loss of most of Reece’s team. Shadow of the Wolf offers a perspective from Ben’s point of view, revealing how he becomes entangled in betrayal and ultimately turns against Reece.
In Kitsch’s words, “This is the origin story,” he told USA Today. “It’s the narrative that explains how we arrived at that pivotal moment. There’s a lot of buzz around Edwards’ character, especially regarding the twists and the questions about his true motives. Viewers will gain a much deeper understanding of who Ben really is and the series of events that led him down this dark path.”
Tom Hopper joins the cast as Raife Haistings, sharing the screen with Kitsch in this new series.
While Kitsch’s portrayal of Ben Edwards has been widely praised by fans, it’s worth noting that the character in the original novels was depicted with a more subdued darkness, with subtle hints of malevolence. Both Kitsch and Jack Carr acknowledge this evolution, recognizing the creative liberties taken to deepen the character’s complexity for the series.
Kitsch explains, “My version of Ben isn’t exactly the same as Jack’s. I told the creators, ‘Let me interpret him my way, and if you’re open to it, I’ll give it a shot.’ They were supportive of the idea.”
Carr admits that the series’ portrayal of Ben has surpassed the character in the books, largely due to Kitsch’s compelling performance. “Fans responded positively to the new take, and it’s clear they wanted a prequel that explores Ben’s origins,” Carr states. Furthermore, Pratt had pitched the idea of a prequel series centered on Ben, aiming to develop his backstory before the events of The Terminal List season 2.
