'The Blacklist' Season 8: Release date, plot, cast, trailer and all you need to know about NBC's hit show starring James Spader

Liz takes Katarina's side in the eighth season of the drama series as she must decide how far she is willing to go to find out what Reddington's endgame really is
(NBC)
(NBC)

'The Blacklist' is NBC's character-driven procedural that made its debut in 2013 and has since then garnered a huge fan base. Even though the date for its Season 8 release was initially made known, many were expecting a delay due to the pandemic. Although, now it's been confirmed that Red and Liz's fans have to wait no longer, as the series will air its Season 8 premiere next month. Here is all you need to know about the upcoming season and the cast members bringing you the crime thriller.

Release date

'The Blacklist' Season 8 releases on November 13, 2020.

Plot

The synopsis of the series as per NBC reads: "With his back against the wall, Raymond Reddington (James Spader) faces his most formidable enemy yet: Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone). Aligned with her mother, infamous Russian spy Katarina Rostova, Liz must decide how far she is willing to go to find out why Reddington has entered her life and what his endgame really is. The fallout between Reddington and Keen will have devastating consequences for all that lie in their wake, including the Task Force they helped to create." 

Metacritic lists Season 8's synopsis as "Liz takes Katarina's (Laila Robins) side in the eighth season of the drama series."

As we had earlier reported, we had left off with the Season 7 finale that showcased live-action scenes along with animated ones and here are a few things that went down.
— Dominic Wilkinson (Brian Dennehy) seems to have gained back consciousness after he was shot in the showdown with Katarina loyal people. 
— Liz's relationship with Red seems to be a bit strayed considering she almost had him executed.
— Red continues to stay quiet about his illness and was actually saved by Katarina.

Cast

James Spader as Raymond "Red" Reddington 

James Spader during the Tribeca Talks at the 2019 Tribeca TV Festival at Regal Battery Park Cinemas on September 12, 2019, in New York City (Getty Images)

Spader is known for his roles as Alan Shore in 'Boston Legal' (2004-2008), Graham in 'Sex, Lies and Videotape' (1989) and Ultron in 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' (2015). His other works include 'Shorts' (2009), 'The Office' (2011-2012), 'Lincoln' (2012) and 'The Homesman' (2014). The actor has won three Primetime Emmy's — two for 'Boston Legal', one in 2007 and another in 2005 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and the third for 'The Practice' (1997) in the same category.

He has also won a BTVA People's Choice Voice Acting Award for Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Feature Film for 'Avengers: Age of Ultron', a Black Film Critics Circle Award for Best Ensemble for 'Lincoln', which he shared with his castmates, and a Best Actor award at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival for 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape'. Spader has also been nominated for the Golden Globes three times — twice for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Drama for 'The Blacklist' in 2014 and 2015, and once for Boston Legal in 2005 in the same category.

Megan Boone as Elizabeth 'Liz' Keen

Megan Boone attends NBC's New York Mid Season Press Junket at Four Seasons Hotel New York on January 24, 2019, in New York City (Getty Images)

Boone is known for her roles as Erin in 'Leave me Like you Found Me' (2012) and Megan in 'My Blood Valentine' (2009). Her recent works include 'Blue Bloods' (2013), 'Welcome to the Jungle' (2013), 'Robot Chicken' (2015), 'The Blacklist: Redemption' (2017) and 'Family Games' (2018). She is also a director and writer for 'Eggshells for Soil' (2010). In 2012, the actress won a Stargazer Award at the Gen Art Film Festival for Best Actor for 'Leave Me Like You Found Me'.

Laila Robins as Katarina Rostova

Laila Robins attends 'After The Wedding' New York Screening at Regal Essex on August 6, 2019, in New York City (Getty Images)

Robins is known for her roles as Susan Page in 'Plance, Trains & Automobiles' (1987), Kate Rainwood in 'An Innocent Man' (1989), Ms Jillian Goldman in 'Eye in the Sky' (2015), and Patricia Findley in 'True Crime' (1999). Her more recent works include 'The Code' (2019), 'The Handmaid's Tale' (2019), 'A Call to Spy' (2019) and 'The Boys' (2019-2020). She has a release listed as 'My Love Affair with Marriage' as filming. In 2015, the actress was nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for 'Homeland' (2011) where she played the role of Martha Boyd — she shared the nomination with her castmates.

'The Blacklist' also stars Diego Klattenhoff as Donald Ressler, Amir Arison as Aram Mojtabai, Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma, Laura Sohn as Agent Alina Park, Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper, and many more.

Creators

The series is created by Jon Bokenkamp.

Trailer

'The Blacklist' Season 8 is yet to be released. Stay tuned for updates.

Where to watch

Catch 'The Blacklist' Season 8 on November 13, 2020, at 8/7c on NBC. The previous seasons can be streamed on NBC as well.

If you like this, you'll love these:

'Manifest'

'Blindspot'

'Chicago P.D.'

'The Blacklist: Redemption'

'New Amsterdam'

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