Created by David DiGilio.
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf was released on August 21, 2025.
Distributed by Amazon Prime Video.
Series Review
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf builds a lean, brutal origin story around Ben Edwards.
Taylor Kitsch carries the series with a raw, physical performance as a Navy SEAL whose loyalty unravels when missions go wrong.
Season 1 moves from high tempo raids to quieter interrogation of guilt and power. The show excels at tactical detail, tight combat choreography, and gritty locations that make the violence feel earned rather than flashy.
Supporting turns from Chris Pratt and Luke Hemsworth add ballast and history, while the writing sometimes buries the plot under geopolitics.
Fans of realistic military drama will enjoy the procedural beats and character moments that explain how Edwards becomes darker.
Critics note uneven pacing but praise the series for emotional stakes and production craft.
Dark Wolf is not subtle, but it is effective. Watch it for tense action, a study of trauma, and a lead turn that deepens the franchise.
Ratings
• IMDb: 8/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
• Google Audience Score: 71% liked this TV show.
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf (2025) Actors
Taylor Kitsch as Ben Edwards
DOB: April 8, 1981.
Bio: Canadian actor and producer who rose to prominence on Friday Night Lights and has built a steady career in film and prestige TV.
Kitsch co-produces and returns to the role of Ben Edwards, a character he played in the broader Terminal List universe.
He leans into physical authenticity and lived-in intensity, qualities that anchor the prequel’s exploration of a soldier pushed toward the shadows.
Role: Ben Edwards is the series lead, a Chief Special Warfare Operator whose journey from Navy SEAL to CIA operative is the emotional and moral center of Dark Wolf.
Expect a mix of field craft, brotherhood drama, and the slow build of a man wrestling with dark choices.
Episodes: Season 1 (appears across S1 episodes).
What to Expect: Gritty, close quarters action balanced by quieter character work that explains how Edwards becomes harder and more compromised over time.
Favorite Things: Kitsch has spoken publicly about outdoor life, veterans’ issues and training intensely for roles.
Notable Works: Friday Night Lights, John Carter, Lone Survivor, The Terminal List.
Tom Hopper as Raife Hastings
DOB: January 28, 1985.
Bio: English actor from Coalville, Leicestershire. Trained at Rose Bruford College, he began his career on British television before gaining international recognition in genre-heavy roles.
Hopper starred as Billy Bones in Black Sails (2014–2017), Dickon Tarly in HBO’s Game of Thrones (2017), and Luther Hargreeves in Netflix’s global hit The Umbrella Academy (2019–2024).
Role: Raife Hastings, a SEAL troop commander in Charlie Platoon and one of Ben Edwards’ closest brothers in arms.
Loyal, disciplined, and quietly principled, Raife serves as both a steadying presence and a moral counterweight to Edwards as he drifts into CIA operations.
Episodes: Season 1 (series regular).
What to Expect: Solid combat sequences, deep SEAL camaraderie scenes and the kind of “moral compass” beats that complicate Edwards’ choices.
Favorite Things: In interviews, Hopper has expressed his love for ensemble storytelling, fitness training, and family life. He values collaboration on set and is passionate about health-focused living.
Notable Works: The Umbrella Academy, Game of Thrones, Black Sails, I Feel Pretty.
Chris Pratt as James Reece
DOB: June 21, 1979.
Bio: American actor and producer born in Virginia, Minnesota, and raised in Lake Stevens, Washington.
He first gained recognition for his comedic role as Andy Dwyer in NBC’s Parks and Recreation (2009–2015) before transitioning into blockbuster stardom.
His versatility across comedy, drama, and action has made him one of the most bankable stars of his generation.
Role: James Reece, a Navy SEAL commander and longtime friend of Ben Edwards.
Though not the central figure in this prequel, Reece’s presence provides vital context for Edwards’ choices, grounding the story in themes of brotherhood, loyalty, and the moral weight of special operations.
Episodes: Season 1 (prominent supporting role).
What to Expect: Reece’s trademark blend of steady leadership and simmering trauma; expect him to be the lens for the original show’s continuity.
Favorite Things: In interviews, Pratt often highlights his devotion to family life, his love of farming and the outdoors, and his passion for fitness.
Notable Works: Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World, Parks and Recreation, The Terminal List.
Luke Hemsworth as Jules Landry
DOB: November 5, 1980.
Bio: Australian actor born in Melbourne, Victoria, and is the eldest of the Hemsworth brothers (Chris and Liam).
He trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney before starting his career in Australian television, most notably on the long-running soap Neighbours.
Role: Jules Landry, a brash CIA contractor whose combustible ego makes him both an asset and a liability in the field.
Landry thrives in high-risk environments but often clashes with allies, complicating missions and loyalty lines.
Episodes: Season 1 (recurring main/supporting).
What to Expect: Tension, moral ambiguity and explosive field moments. Hemsworth’s Landry is the kind of foil who raises stakes on darker ops.
Favorite Things: In interviews, Luke emphasizes the importance of family life, often speaking about raising his children with his wife Samantha.
Notable Works: Neighbours, Westworld, Land of Bad, Next Goal Wins.
Dar Salim as Mohammed “Mo” Farooq
DOB: August 18, 1977.
Bio: Iraqi-born Danish actor, born in Baghdad and raised in Denmark after his family fled Iraq when he was a child.
Before entering the film industry, he served in the Royal Danish Army’s elite Hussar Guard Regiment, giving him first-hand military experience that informs many of his later roles.
Role: Major Mohammed “Mo” Farooq, an Iraqi Special Operations Forces officer working closely with Navy SEALs on joint missions.
Farooq is depicted as calm, professional, and deeply loyal, but his presence complicates the political and moral realities of coalition warfare.
Episodes: Season 1 (recurring).
What to Expect: Grounded tactical competence, quiet leadership and scenes that humanize coalition partnerships.
Favorite Things: In interviews, Salim emphasizes the importance of authenticity in portraying soldiers, noting that he feels a responsibility to represent the nuances of real people caught in conflict zones.
Notable Works: The Devil’s Double, Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant, Borgen.
Robert Wisdom as Jed Haverford
DOB: September 14, 1953.
Bio: American actor born in Washington, D.C. A graduate of Columbia University, he initially worked as a producer for NPR’s All Things Considered before pursuing acting in his 30s.
Wisdom has built a reputation as one of television’s most reliable character actors, frequently embodying figures of authority, moral weight, or quiet menace.
Role: Jed Haverford, a seasoned CIA spymaster who oversees covert operations in Europe.
Haverford is the bureaucratic and strategic brain behind darker intelligence maneuvers, balancing realpolitik with ruthless decision-making.
Episodes: Season 1 (recurring).
What to Expect: Gravitas, strategic mind games and the moral compromises of espionage leadership.
Favorite Things: Wisdom has spoken in interviews about his love for longform storytelling, emphasizing how TV allows for deep character exploration over time.
Notable Works: The Wire, Prison Break, A Journal for Jordan.
Rona-Lee Shim’on as Eliza Perash
DOB: January 9, 1983.
Bio: Israeli actress, model, and dancer born in Ramat Gan, Israel.
She attended the Royal Ballet Academy in Amsterdam and rose to international prominence with her portrayal of Nurit in Netflix’s Fauda, where she became the show’s first prominent female commando.
Role: Eliza Perash, a seasoned Mossad field operative and complicated ally in Ben Edwards’ backstory.
She is a skilled operator who blends professional sharpness with personal entanglements, becoming both a partner and a potential liability.
Episodes: Season 1 (recurring).
What to Expect: Intense field sequences, morally ambiguous decisions and a layered relationship with Edwards.
Favorite Things: Shim’on has often spoken about her love for dance, physical performance, and exploring strong, multifaceted female roles that break stereotypes.
Notable Works: Fauda, Black Lotus, Dirty Angels.
Shiraz Tzarfati as Tal Varon
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Israeli–French actor born and raised in Tel Aviv. Trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York and at Studio Pygmalion in Paris, she is trilingual, performing in Hebrew, French, and English.
Her early work includes New York stage productions such as Dolores, and she’s starred in international TV series like The Serpent Queen and Theodosia.
Role: Tal Varon is a young, determined Mossad operator seeking field experience under Eliza Perash.
She brings moxie and a modern perspective to old-school tactics.
Episodes: Season 1 (recurring).
What to Expect: Fast tactical work, a sense of urgency and the show’s more contemporary special-ops viewpoint.
Favorite Things: Personal interview material is sparse; public profiles emphasize stage training and international work.
Notable Works: The Serpent Queen, Theodosia, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.
Jared Shaw as Ernest “Boozer” Vickers
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Jared Shaw is a former U.S. Navy SEAL turned actor and creative producer for The Terminal List franchise.
Shaw originated the role of Ernest “Boozer” Vickers in The Terminal List series and reprised the character in its prequel, Dark Wolf, while also serving as a producer.
Role: Ernest “Boozer” Vickers is a fellow SEAL teammate whose presence highlights the brutal cost of combat and the deep bonds formed in the line of duty.
Episodes: Season 1 (recurring / guest across multiple episodes).
What to Expect: Authentic combat behavior, brotherly humor and scenes that underscore the trauma of long deployments.
Favorite Things: Shaw’s public persona centers on veteran advocacy and efforts to portray the military experience with realism and respect.
Notable Works: The Terminal List (original), The Tomorrow War, producer credits on military dramas.
LaMonica Garrett as Commander William “Bill” Cox
DOB: May 23, 1975.
Bio: American actor and former Slamball pro, praised for roles that leverage his physical presence and stature.
He rose to national attention on Sons of Anarchy as Deputy Sheriff Cane, then became a familiar face in genre TV through parts in Designated Survivor, The Last Ship, and as the Monitor/Anti-Monitor across the Arrowverse
Role: Commander Bill Cox is the senior SEAL in charge of field missions in Dark Wolf.
Deadly precise and politically savvy, he stands as the impossibly tough chain-of-command figure who must manage the unpredictable realities of wartime intelligence operations.
Episodes: Season 1 (guest/recurring).
What to Expect: Authoritative scenes that illustrate chain-of-command pressure and the operational consequences of bad intel.
Favorite Things: Garrett frequently shares his passion for competitive fitness, speaking about rigorous training regimens that include intermittent fasting, hot yoga, and strict nutrition, habits he maintains to stay ready for any role
Notable Works: 1883, Primal, Sons of Anarchy, Designated Survivor.
Chris Diamantopoulos as Aaron Fuller
DOB: May 9, 1975.
Bio: Greek-Canadian actor and comedian whose career spans TV, film, Broadway, and voice acting.
He excelled in roles such as the eccentric Russ Hanneman on Silicon Valley and portrayed Moe Howard in The Three Stooges film
Role: Aaron Fuller is a CIA contractor whose business and logistics work intersect with the covert missions that Edwards and crew undertake.
Episodes: Season 1 (guest/supporting).
What to Expect: Crisp scene work, the kind of small role that reveals bureaucratic layers behind field action.
Favorite Things: Known for his quick comedic instincts and voice work, Diamantopoulos often discusses the joy of animation, the challenge of meeting iconic legacies (like Mickey), and his enduring connection to musical theatre and comedy.
Notable Works: Silicon Valley, The Three Stooges, Red Notice, Invincible.
Michael Ealy as Ish Reinhart
DOB: August 3, 1973.
Bio: American actor known for his versatility across film and television.
Rising to fame with Barbershop (2002), he has since built a career portraying characters that balance charm, intensity, and emotional vulnerability.
Trained in theater before breaking into Hollywood, Ealy’s career spans romantic dramas, thrillers, and action projects.
Role: Ish Reinhart is introduced as a CIA operative whose decisions reflect the murky alliances and high-stakes pressures of intelligence work.
Episodes: Season 1 (guest).
What to Expect: Subtle, emotionally layered supporting work that adds texture to the show’s conspiratorial edges.
Favorite Things: In interviews, Ealy has emphasized his love for storytelling that challenges perspectives, as well as his preference for roles with emotional weight rather than surface-level appeal.
Notable Works: Barbershop, Sleeper Cell, The Perfect Guy.
More Actors
• Alain Ali Washnevsky as Cyrus Rahimi.
• Hadi Khanjanpour as Vahid Rahimi.
• Luke Roberts as The Courier.
• Raha Rahbari as Nasrin Rahimi.
• Fady Demian as Sergeant Daran Amiri.
FAQ – The Terminal List: Dark Wolf (2025) Series
Will there be a second season of Dark Wolf?
Yes. Production insiders and Taylor Kitsch himself confirm that Season 2 is already being plotted, with Ben Edwards’ journey heading into even darker, emotionally intense territory.
More on ScreenRant
What is the series about?
This prequel explores Ben Edwards’ backstory, showing his transition from a focused Navy SEAL to a morally compromised CIA covert operative.
It begins five years before the events of the original series and dives deep into the emotional toll of war.
Which actors return from the original series?
Yes, Taylor Kitsch reprises his role as Ben Edwards, and Chris Pratt returns as James Reece.
Both continue to anchor the franchise, now from a different angle in Edwards’ journey.
Is the main series / sequel coming soon?
Yes. Season 2 of The Terminal List is currently in production and will adapt Jack Carr’s second novel, True Believer.
Key characters like Raife Hastings and Jules Landry, introduced in Dark Wolf, will continue in that story.
More on People
Where was the series filmed?
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf was filmed in Los Angeles (USA), Prague (Czech Republic), Morocco, and British Columbia (Canada).
These diverse locations were chosen to give the series an authentic espionage feel, blending urban intensity with rugged landscapes.
Conclusion
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf succeeds as both a gripping prequel and a standalone military thriller.
It peels back the layers of Ben Edwards, showing audiences how a loyal soldier is shaped by betrayal, sacrifice, and choices that blur the line between hero and antihero.
While its pacing can feel uneven at times, the blend of visceral action, emotional weight, and sharp performances ensures it leaves a strong impact.
For fans of tactical realism and complex character arcs, Dark Wolf delivers a tense, grounded ride that expands the franchise in meaningful ways.