PONIES is a stylish Cold War spy thriller that premiered on Peacock today, January 15, 2026. Starring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson, the series is already being hailed as a “sleeper hit” for its unique blend of gritty espionage and dark, “gallows” humor.
The title “PONIES” is an intelligence acronym for “Persons of No Interest.” The show was co-created by Susanna Fogel (The Flight Attendant, Booksmart) and David Iserson (Mr. Robot, Mad Men). It is a limited series consisting of 8 episodes, all of which were released at once for a binge-watch premiere.
PONIES Tv Series 2026 Overviews
| Feature | Details |
| Series Title | PONIES |
| Showrunner | Mike Daniels |
| Directors | Susanna Fogel, David Iserson |
| Lead Cast | Emilia Clarke, Haley Lu Richardson |
| Supporting Cast | Adrian Lester, Artjom Gilz, Vic Michaelis, Nicholas Podany |
| Episode Count | 8 Episodes (~60 mins each) |
| Critical Rating | Certified Fresh (Rotten Tomatoes) |
| Filming Location | Budapest, Hungary (doubling for 1970s Moscow) |
PONIES Tv Series 2026 OTT Release Date
Release Date: January 15, 2026
Platform: Peacock
Genre: Spy Thriller / Dramedy
PONIES Tv Series 2026 Storyline
The series is set at the height of the Cold War in 1970s Moscow. It follows two American women who are living quiet, overlooked lives as “embassy wives” and secretaries:
- Bea Grant (Emilia Clarke): An over-educated, highly intelligent daughter of Soviet immigrants who is fluent in Russian but feels stifled by her domestic role.
- Twila Hasbeck (Haley Lu Richardson): A fearless, abrasive, and street-smart small-town girl who uses humor to mask her dissatisfaction with her surroundings.
The plot kicks off when their husbands—both undercover CIA operatives—die in a mysterious plane crash near Moscow. Convinced that the official story is a cover-up, Bea and Twila defy the embassy’s orders to return home. Instead, they convince the CIA’s Moscow station chief to let them go undercover. Because the KGB considers them “persons of no interest,” the two women are able to move through Moscow undetected, unearthing a vast conspiracy that could change the course of the Cold War.
