Jamie Dornan and Anthony Mackie Face Off in Explosive New Apple TV Crime Thriller Built Around a Daring European Bank Heist
Jamie Dornan is returning to television in a high-stakes crime thriller that combines an extraordinary bank robbery, a disgraced FBI agent seeking revenge and a dangerous pursuit unfolding across three different timelines.
The Northern Irish actor stars alongside Anthony Mackie in 12 12 12, an eight-part Apple TV series premiering on Friday, November 13.
Set against the backdrop of an ambitious robbery targeting a heavily protected bank vault beneath Zurich, the drama follows two men locked in an increasingly personal battle of intelligence, deception and survival.
With a sprawling European setting and a narrative that moves between the planning, execution and aftermath of the crime, the series aims to deliver more than a conventional heist thriller.
One Robbery, Three Timelines and Twelve Days to Disappear
The unusual title 12 12 12 reveals the structure of the entire story.
The series moves between three interconnected periods: the 12 months leading up to the robbery, the 12 hours during which the operation unfolds and the 12 days immediately afterward.
Each timeline offers a different perspective on the elaborate criminal scheme, gradually exposing the decisions and relationships that shape its outcome.
At the centre of the operation is Paul, an experienced American criminal played by Dornan.
Opposing him is Jack, a disgraced FBI agent portrayed by Mackie, whose determination to catch Paul extends far beyond an ordinary law enforcement investigation.
Their confrontation unfolds across Europe as the audacious robbery becomes the centrepiece of a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
The unconventional structure allows the series to explore not only how a seemingly impossible crime is organised, but also what happens when those involved attempt to escape its consequences.
Anthony Mackie’s Character Is Driven by Revenge
Although the robbery provides the drama’s central spectacle, the personal rivalry between Jack and Paul promises to be equally important.
Jack is not simply an investigator pursuing a suspect.
As the trailer makes clear, he believes Paul has wronged him personally and is determined to settle the score.
That motivation complicates his pursuit, blurring the distinction between professional responsibility and personal vengeance.
For Paul, the challenge extends beyond breaking into a secure vault and escaping with the proceeds.
He must also anticipate the actions of an adversary who understands the stakes and has powerful reasons to refuse defeat.
The resulting conflict places two determined and morally complicated characters on opposite sides of an increasingly unpredictable investigation.
Jamie Dornan Takes on a Dangerous New Role
Dornan’s character represents another intriguing addition to the actor’s television career.
Known for his performances in The Fall and The Tourist, he has considerable experience portraying characters whose motivations are difficult to decipher.
In 12 12 12, he plays a career criminal attempting to execute an extraordinarily ambitious operation while staying ahead of a relentless pursuer.
The role also offers an opportunity to explore the contrast between a character’s criminal actions and the personal qualities that may make audiences sympathise with him.
Mackie has praised Dornan’s ability to bring emotional authenticity to his performances.
Speaking to Extra TV, the actor highlighted his co-star’s understated style and capacity to make viewers emotionally invested in his characters.
That quality could prove especially important in a thriller where the audience’s loyalties may shift as new information emerges.
Both Dornan and Mackie also serve as executive producers on the project.
Anthony Mackie Brings Intensity to the FBI Investigation
Mackie, widely recognised for his role as Sam Wilson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, takes on a markedly different challenge as Jack.
Rather than portraying a conventional heroic investigator, he plays a man whose damaged professional reputation and personal grievances shape his pursuit of Paul.
The character’s obsession with catching his opponent suggests that the consequences of the robbery may be as psychological as they are financial.
As the investigation develops, Jack’s desire for revenge threatens to become inseparable from his determination to bring the criminal operation to an end.
The tension between the two leading characters forms the emotional foundation of a story otherwise filled with elaborate planning, dangerous encounters and international intrigue.
A Major International Cast Joins the Heist Drama
Alongside its two leading stars, 12 12 12 features an international ensemble of actors.
Jack Kesy, known for Claws, joins the cast alongside Agathe Rousselle, who appeared in Titane.
Dutch actress Sallie Harmsen, French actor José Garcia and True Detective star Kali Reis also feature in the series.
The production brings together performers from different backgrounds, reflecting the international scale of the story.
The thriller was created by Dudi Appleton and Jim Keeble, whose previous writing credits include Wild Bill and Silent Witness.
BAFTA-winning director Kari Skogland, known for her work on major television productions, directs multiple episodes.
Her involvement adds further experience to a project built around intricate storytelling and large-scale action.
Why the Three-Timeline Structure Makes This Heist Different
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Traditional robbery dramas often build towards the execution of a carefully planned crime before following the escape.
12 12 12 takes a different approach by moving between preparation, execution and aftermath throughout the story.
The 12-month timeline examines the elaborate groundwork required for the operation.
The 12-hour timeline focuses on the robbery itself, when even a minor mistake could jeopardise the entire plan.
Meanwhile, the 12-day timeline explores the period when the criminals must avoid capture and confront the consequences of their decisions.
By revealing events out of chronological order, the drama can gradually change viewers’ understanding of the characters and their motivations.
An apparently insignificant moment in one timeline may become far more important when viewed alongside events from another.
That approach creates opportunities for unexpected revelations while maintaining the tension surrounding the central robbery.
When Does 12 12 12 Premiere on Apple TV?
The eight-part thriller is scheduled to premiere on Apple TV on Friday, November 13, 2026.
The series brings together two established leading actors, an ambitious European setting and a narrative centred on an extraordinary bank robbery beneath Zurich.
For fans of elaborate heist dramas and psychologically driven crime thrillers, its combination of action, revenge and competing timelines offers a distinctive premise.
But while the robbery itself may be the most spectacular element, the increasingly personal conflict between Dornan’s criminal mastermind and Mackie’s disgraced FBI agent could prove to be the story’s most compelling feature.
Twelve months to prepare, twelve hours to carry out the robbery and twelve days to escape. In 12 12 12, pulling off the crime is only part of the challenge — surviving what follows may be even harder.