Alfie Allen Talks ‘Atomic’: Breaking Away from ‘Game of Thrones’ and Embracing New Roles |

When two anti-heroes collide, chaos is bound to follow. And, that’s exactly what audiences can expect from ‘Atomic’, the new action-adventure thriller inspired by William Langewiesche’s acclaimed book ‘The Atomic Bazaar’. Starring Alfie Allen, best known for his role in ‘Game of Thrones’, as free-spirited smuggler Max and Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery) as the enigmatic JJ, the series throws its leads into a frantic seven-day odyssey across North Africa and the Middle East. Complete with CIA pursuits, uranium trafficking, MI6 interference, and a dangerous web of shifting loyalties, this new series is equal parts a cinematic spectacle and character-driven drama. We sat down with Alfie and Shazad to talk about what drew them to this high-stakes ride, the challenges of shaking off past roles, and why their onscreen chemistry works so well. Excerpts: Q: Alfie and Shazad, since you both come from strong television backgrounds, what makes ‘Atomic’ great television, and what made you want to be a part of it?Alfie: Well, I’d say what makes it good television is that it’s about two kinds of anti-heroes who embark on this seven-day adventure. In other stories, these two characters could easily be villains. But I was definitely drawn to the project because Gregory Burke had written it—he did an amazing movie called ’71 that I loved. And then, a couple of weeks into shooting, I could see what the DOP and the director were creating together on the monitors, and it just looked beautiful with the scenery in Morocco. They really used it well—it’s cinematic.Shazad: It’s cinematic, it’s action-adventure, it’s emotional drama. There are traumatic parts of the characters, drug smuggling, the CIA, MI6, so it’s a global show even though it’s very British. It basically has something for everyone, and it’s also very, very funny. You’re watching these two guys who don’t really like each other poke at each other, but they need each other, and they actually like each other. That’s a joy to watch.Alfie: And it’s straight in there with the action. If action’s your thing with big stunts, high energy, then you’re right in there from the start.Q: Gregory Burke has a strong background in spy thrillers and military dramas. How did his experience shape ‘Atomic’, especially considering today’s geopolitical climate?Shazad: That’s what you hope for. You know Greg does his research, he knows what he’s talking about, and you trust the writer. Then you collaborate, add your own stuff in, and hope it all comes together.Alfie: Yeah, I definitely trust Greg with his writing.Q: Alfie, people still strongly associate you with ‘Game of Thrones’. Was it challenging, professionally or personally, to break away from that and create a new identity with Max?Alfie: Do you know what? With every job I take on, I try to approach it with a totally new mindset. With ‘Game of Thrones’ and the time I spent there, yes, that’s what most people will associate me with, but that’s essentially a good thing. It was a big show that so many people loved. I am, just really grateful and feel blessed to be able to go on this ride with ‘Atomic’. Q: Shazad, you’ve spoken before about how playing characters with non-ethnic-specific names feels like a small victory. How does this role contribute to breaking stereotypes and pushing against typecasting?Shazad: I think this show is good because nothing is what it seems. The characters are rich and deep, and you can change what people might assume is the normal perception. It’s always about change. It’s good to play non-ethnic characters, but also good to play ethnic ones—just with a twist. Variation is key, especially for brown and Black actors. We need varied roles and more of them. We can just play normal roles. That’s the hope.Q: Max and JJ’s relationship evolves from strangers to reluctant allies. Who are your favourite buddy duos, and how did you work on your own chemistry for the show?Alfie and Shazad (together): The Chuckle Brothers.Alfie: ‘Morecambe and Wise’ are classic. ‘The Two Ronnies’. ‘Bad Boys!’ Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, that was on last night.Shazad: In terms of our own chemistry, we did the prep, but then you let it happen naturally while filming. That’s the magic, you want it to happen in the moment. Anything spontaneous is gold.Alfie: It helped that we started with the big stunt stuff. We trained together, went through the long days, and built that shared experience. By the time we were filming the car scenes in those confined spaces, it felt easy, natural.Q: Any words for fans eagerly waiting to watch Atomic?Alfie: If action, great actors, good-looking guys, and funny moments are your thing—watch Atomic.Shazad: Also, what else are you going to do? Go out for a walk? Exactly. Just watch the show.