Scarlett Johansson’s First TV Show Is Prime Video’s Answer To The Most-Watched Netflix Series Of 2026

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Scarlett Johansson is starring in her first TV drama, a new series for Prime Video that’s similar to Netflix’s biggest hit this year. She’ll play the main character in a TV adaptation of the crime thriller Just Cause, originally written by John Katzenbach, but with a twist – the character is now female.

The way the actress plays Madi Cowart is very similar to Tessa Thompson’s performance alongside Jon Bernthal in the Netflix mystery thriller that came out this January. While other shows with a similar feel might exist, Just Cause strongly resembles the series that has quickly made Thompson and Bernthal streaming sensations in 2026.

Scarlett Johansson is well-known for her roles as Black Widow in the Marvel movies and as the lead actress in Lost in Translation. Early in her career, she also appeared in a number of critically acclaimed independent films. More recently, she earned two Academy Award nominations in 2021 for her work in Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit. Despite her success in film, she hasn’t taken on a significant live-action role in a television series.

Scarlett Johansson is one of the last big movie stars to venture into streaming television. Her new show, Just Cause, seems to be her first major step in that direction. She’s likely hoping it performs well on Prime Video, similar to how successful His & Hers has been for Netflix.

Just Cause Can Be Prime Video’s Answer To His & Hers

As of May, His & Hers is already one of Netflix’s most popular series ever, ranking as the second most-streamed show of 2026 with over 100 million views. This limited series centers around a detective and a news reporter—former spouses—who find unexpected suspects while investigating a murder.

Prime Video’s series, Just Cause, centers around a journalist named Madi Cowart, played by Scarlett Johansson, who begins investigating a murder. She quickly discovers that the person currently convicted may not be the real killer as she gets deeper into the case.

Things get even more complicated when the investigation becomes personal for Cowart, mirroring the experiences of the main characters in His & Hers. Similar to the Netflix series Just Cause, this will be a suspenseful psychological thriller set in a creepy small town, where a murder investigation puts the journalist covering the story in serious danger.

This new TV series represents a departure for Scarlett Johansson. While she’s appeared in suspenseful thrillers before, such as The Black Dahlia and Under the Skin, this will be her first raw and realistic crime drama. What’s especially different is that this project is designed for television, unlike much of her previous work.

Johansson Also Starred In The Original Movie Version Of Just Cause

Interestingly, Scarlett Johansson actually appeared in a previous version of Just Cause long before the new Prime Video series. Back in 1995, a film based on John Katzenbach’s novel was released starring Sean Connery, and Johansson played his character’s 11-year-old daughter.

The movie didn’t do very well in theaters and received harsh reviews, leading it to fade into obscurity. Now, Prime Video is creating a new TV series based on the story, with Scarlett Johansson playing the main character – a role originally made famous by Sean Connery, but reimagined as a female lead.

As a movie fan, it’s really cool to see this actress finally making her way to TV, especially with a role that feels like a perfect culmination of her work so far. From what I’ve heard, the Just Cause series on Prime Video is actually a much closer adaptation of the original book than the film version was, and I’m hoping it resonates with audiences a lot more this time around.

If this show is successful, it could be the start of a new career for Johansson on television. While she’s sure to remain a movie star, Just Cause will showcase her talents in a longer-form storytelling format.

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2026-05-12 02:51