Series with Charlie Hunnam: Why the Biker Star Still Matters on TV

You know Charlie Hunnam. Or at least, you know the swagger. For most of us, he’s forever Jax Teller, the blond, leather-clad heart of Sons of Anarchy who spent seven seasons trying to be a good man while doing very, very bad things. But honestly? If you only know him from the back of a Harley, you’re missing about 70% of the story.

The guy has had a wild career trajectory. It’s not just been a straight line from Newcastle to Hollywood. It’s been a series of pivots, from British cult classics to Judd Apatow comedies, and most recently, a terrifying turn as a real-life ghoul.

Basically, if you’re looking for series with Charlie Hunnam, you have to look past the grease and the guns.

From Canal Street to Charming: The Early Years

Before he was an outlaw, he was just a kid in Manchester.

Back in 1999, Charlie landed a role in the original UK version of Queer as Folk. He played Nathan Maloney, a 15-year-old rebel navigating the gay scene. It was groundbreaking. It was controversial. And for a young actor, it was a massive "hello world" moment. He had this raw, nervous energy that made him impossible to ignore.

Then came the jump to America.

He ended up in Undeclared, a short-lived but beloved college comedy from Judd Apatow. He played Lloyd Haythe, the "hot British guy" on the dorm floor. It’s a trip to watch now because he’s so... charmingly normal. No tattoos. No brooding. Just a guy trying to get through freshman year.

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It didn't last long—only 18 episodes—but it proved he could do more than just heavy drama.

The Jax Teller Era: Changing the Game

We have to talk about Sons of Anarchy.

For many, this is the definitive Charlie Hunnam series. Kurt Sutter saw him in Green Street Hooligans and basically said, "That’s my Jax." From 2008 to 2014, Hunnam didn't just play a biker; he lived it. He famously didn't drive a car for years, opting for his bike to stay in character.

The show was Shakespeare on wheels. Jax was Hamlet in a kutte. The internal struggle between his father's peaceful manifesto and his stepfather's violent reality became one of the most compelling arcs in modern TV history.

Why SOA worked so well:

• The Physicality: Hunnam looked like he belonged in that world.
• The Moral Gray Area: You rooted for him even when he was doing the unthinkable.
• The Chemistry: His scenes with Katey Sagal (Gemma) were legendary.

By the time the series ended in 2014, Hunnam was a global superstar. But then, he did something weird. He mostly walked away from TV for a decade.

The Modern Pivot: Shantaram and The Monster

Returning to the small screen after a ten-year hiatus is risky.

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In 2022, he headlined Shantaram on Apple TV+. Based on the massive novel by Gregory David Roberts, it followed an Australian fugitive named Lin Ford who gets lost in the underworld of 1980s Bombay. It was ambitious. It was expensive.

Unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for everyone. The show was canceled after one season, leaving fans of the book (and Hunnam) wanting more of that gritty, sweat-soaked atmosphere.

But he didn't slow down.

In late 2025, Hunnam took on arguably his darkest role yet: Ed Gein in the third season of Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology. Moving from the "cool biker" to the "Butcher of Plainfield" was a massive swing. He played Gein as an isolated, psychotic figure obsessed with his mother, Augusta (played by Laurie Metcalf).

The reviews for Monster: The Ed Gein Story were, frankly, all over the place. Some critics hated the graphic violence; others were transfixed by Hunnam’s transformation. Either way, it showed he wasn't afraid to get ugly to prove his range.

What’s Next: Criminal on Prime Video

If you’re wondering where to find him next, keep an eye on Amazon Prime Video.

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He’s set to lead Criminal, an adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novels by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. He’s playing Leo Patterson, a master thief who hates guns and violence. He’s the "chess player" of the underworld.

It feels like a homecoming. He’s back in the crime genre, but playing a character who uses his brain instead of his fists. With a cast that includes Emilia Clarke and Luke Evans, it’s easily one of the most anticipated series with Charlie Hunnam in years.

A Quick Cheat Sheet of Charlie Hunnam’s TV Career

Final Takeaways for the Super-Fan

If you’re looking to binge-watch, start with Sons of Anarchy for the impact, then go back to Undeclared to see how far he’s come.

Charlie Hunnam has a knack for picking roles that challenge the "pretty boy" image he could have easily settled into. He’s an actor who clearly cares more about the grit than the glamour. Whether he’s playing a philosopher king on a motorcycle or a quiet thief in a comic book adaptation, he brings a weight to the screen that’s rare to find.

To keep up with his latest projects, make sure your Prime Video and Netflix subscriptions are active. Criminal is expected to drop soon, and if the source material is any indication, it’s going to be the role that finally breaks his "post-Sons" curse.

Actionable Insights:

1. Watch the UK Queer as Folk: It’s often overlooked by US fans but contains some of his most raw work.
2. Read the Criminal Graphic Novels: Specifically "Coward" and "Lawless," as these are the arcs the first season of his new show will cover.
3. Check out The Gentlemen (2019): While it's a movie, not a series, his performance as Ray is essentially the blueprint for the more refined, cerebral characters he's playing now.

Keep an eye on the release schedules for early 2026. Criminal is likely to be the talk of the year.