Gorgeous new noir thriller show quietly made available to stream for free

A stand-alone sequel to a classic movie, the series comes from the creators of Oz and The Queen's Gambit.

Accessible for free through Channel 4's website, the six-part series comes from creators Scott Frank (The Queen's Gambit) and Tom Fontana (Oz).

It focuses on private detective Sam Spade, the protagonist of Dashiell Hammett's 1930 novel The Maltese Falcon, and its legendary 1941 film adaptation, starring Humphrey Bogart.

A standalone sequel, Monsieur Spade takes place two decades after the events of The Maltese Falcon, with Owen stepping into the role of the PI.

The story focuses on a now-retired Spade in the 1960s, living in the small town of Bozouls in the South of France.

"By contrast to his days as a private eye in San Francisco, Spade’s life in Bozouls is peaceful and quiet. But the rumoured return of his old adversary will change everything," the plot synopsis adds.

"Six beloved nuns have been brutally murdered at the local convent. As the town grieves, secrets emerge, and new leads are established.

"Spade learns that the murders are somehow connected to a mysterious child who is believed to possess great powers."

Owen stars in Monsieur Spade alongside a mostly French cast, including Chiara Mastroianni (Nowhere), Denis Ménochet (Inglourious Basterds), Louise Bourgoin (The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec) and Stanley Weber (Drops of God).

Released in the United States back in January 2024, we had been eagerly awaiting the show's UK and Ireland release.

Having checked out some of the series, we'd certainly recommend it, thanks to its gorgeous French setting and Owen's wonderful evocation of both Spade and Bogart.

Monsieur Spade is streaming on Channel 4's website for free in its entirety right now.