Lily James is diving into action. The Pam & Tommy and Downton Abbey star has officially signed on to star alongside Chris Hemsworth in Subversion, an upcoming submarine thriller described as “Die Hard on a submarine.”
Set to be directed by 7500 filmmaker Patrick Vollrath for Amazon MGM, the film follows Hemsworth as a disgraced naval commander blackmailed by a powerful cartel-like organization. Forced to pilot a submarine carrying illegal cargo through treacherous international waters, he finds himself in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a relentless Coast Guard officer — played by Lily James.
James’ character will be hot on his trail as the submarine navigates blockades and life-threatening dangers from both outside and within. The project, produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Transformers), Stephen Shafer, and Greg Cohen, is expected to begin filming this September in Australia.
This new role reflects James’ ongoing desire to take on more complex and unpredictable parts. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she opened up about her latest projects, including the thriller Relay, which she stars in alongside Riz Ahmed and Sam Worthington.
“At this point in my career, I want to keep pushing myself to play unlikely roles… roles that surprise me,” she shared. “Relay felt like this really gripping, dark thriller that exposes the world of whistleblowers and this idea of always being watched. It felt really surprising.”
James also praised the experience of working with acclaimed director David Mackenzie and admired how Relay was able to build intense chemistry between her and Ahmed, despite their characters rarely sharing screen time.
“When I watched the movie for the first time at TIFF, I was like, ‘Wow, it’s incredible that there’s this great electricity between these two characters when they barely meet.’”
With Subversion, James seems poised to continue exploring bold, genre-pushing roles. Paired with Hemsworth in a claustrophobic, high-tension thriller set underwater, the film promises action, suspense, and emotional complexity — and possibly another career-defining performance from James.
