The Diamond Heist: Release date news, streaming details, cast details and more

On April 16, 2025, Netflix will unveil The Diamond Heist, a true crime docuseries that takes audiences deep into one of the UK’s most astonishing criminal stories.

While the tale may sound like something lifted from a high-octane thriller, every detail stems from real life, and Guy Ritchie, known for his punchy crime dramas, brings his signature touch as executive producer. The result is a story told with urgency, grit, and an eye for detail.

Across three episodes, the series unpacks the bold attempt, back in the year 2000, by a seasoned gang from Southeast London to rob the Millennium Dome. Their target? The Millennium Star, a rare 203.04-carat diamond worth over £350 million. What the group didn’t know was that the Flying Squad, a specialized branch of the Metropolitan Police, had been monitoring their every move. What follows is a dramatic, twist-filled retelling of how a carefully crafted plan, considered by its creators to be foolproof, began to unravel in the most unexpected ways.

Worldwide release and language support

This isn’t just a local release. The Diamond Heist will launch worldwide on Netflix, reaching viewers across multiple regions with options for dubbed audio and subtitles in several languages. At the helm is Jesse Vile, a documentary filmmaker praised for his ability to turn complex real-life events into compelling, emotionally grounded stories. His earlier film, The Fear of 13, demonstrated just how powerful a single voice could be when guided by the right structure and tone. In this new project, Vile widens the frame, weaving together several viewpoints and timelines while never losing that emotional core. His collaboration with Ritchie results in a piece that feels as dramatic as fiction but is anchored in truth.

Cast, characters, and firsthand perspectives

What sets The Diamond Heist apart from other crime docuseries is its rare mix of first-person narration and dramatic reenactment, blending real voices with storytelling finesse. At its center is Lee Wenham, a man who was directly involved in the attempted heist. He doesn’t just appear in interviews; he plays himself, recounting what happened with startling candor.

His reflections, often tinged with regret and insight, lend a human face to events that could easily have been reduced to sensational headlines. Opposite him is Tuncay Gunes, stepping into the role of Ray Betson, believed to be the mastermind behind the operation. Their perspectives are layered with commentary from former Flying Squad officers, creating a dynamic, multi-sided account that gives viewers access to both the strategic minds behind the crime and the law enforcement team that stopped it. It’s not about heroes or villains; it’s about people caught in the middle of a high-stakes gamble.

The plan, the digger, and the downfall

Months before the heist was attempted, the police had already set their operation in motion. Known internally as Operation Magician, it involved intense surveillance, covert recordings, and carefully placed cameras. Meanwhile, the gang, unaware of the scrutiny, was finalizing a plan that felt almost cinematic. They outfitted a construction digger to breach the Dome’s reinforced display area, aiming to smash their way to the diamond and then escape via speedboat on the River Thames.

The idea was bold, even elegant in its simplicity: get in fast, grab the prize, vanish without a trace. But what the gang couldn’t see was that they were walking into a trap. As soon as they made their move, police officers swarmed in. The arrests were swift, and the real diamonds? Never touched. A plan they thought was flawless was shut down almost instantly, all under the gaze of the hidden lenses they never suspected were there.

The Millennium Dome and the diamond everyone wanted

The setting for the heist was just as iconic as the jewel at its center. Built to mark the turn of the millennium, the Millennium Dome, located in Greenwich, was a futuristic symbol of national pride. Inside, it housed several exhibitions, including the glittering diamond display from De Beers. At the heart of that display was the Millennium Star, a diamond officially rated D-Flawless. The gem had been discovered in the Congo and took over three years to cut, becoming a geological marvel and a cultural artifact. For the crew behind the heist, it represented more than money; it was a chance to make history. That the diamond remained untouched and undamaged only added to its legend, turning it from a coveted object into a kind of myth.

The social context and the lure of the underworld

The series zooms out to fully understand the choices that led to the heist, painting a broader picture of Southeast London at the start of the 21st century. In this part of the city, economic hardship, social inequality, and limited opportunities often collided. For many, especially those already on the fringes of the law, taking a huge risk seemed like the only path to something greater. The Diamond Heist doesn’t condone the crime but explores the conditions that shaped the minds behind it. Through interviews and archival footage, it examines the psychology of risk and the moment confidence crosses the line into arrogance. These were individuals who truly believed they could beat the system, and that belief, more than anything, became their undoing.

The style, pacing, and visual storytelling

From a production standpoint, the series is carefully crafted to feel immersive without ever overdramatizing. Cinematographer Tim Cragg creates tension not with flashy visuals but through moody lighting, well-framed silences, and close shots that pull the viewer inward. The reenactments don’t mimic Hollywood; they reflect a more profound emotional truth. Each movement, each glance, feels rooted in reality. Editor Tom Dixon-Spain ensures that past and present scenes flow effortlessly, giving the story room to breathe. Rather than forcing suspense, the series lets it build naturally, layer by layer, until the viewer feels it just as the characters do.

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Final thoughts

Ultimately, The Diamond Heist delivers far more than a retelling of a failed crime. It’s a compelling, multi-dimensional look at what drives people to take impossible risks and what happens when those risks don’t pay off. With Guy Ritchie’s cinematic instincts and Jesse Vile’s intimate storytelling, the series holds tension without leaning on spectacle. It stays grounded in the lives it portrays. These were real people, driven by ambition, desperation, and a sense that they had one shot to change everything. And when that shot missed, the fallout was just as dramatic as the plan. This is a series worth watching for anyone drawn to true crime that digs deeper than the surface. Because sometimes, the truth doesn’t just rival fiction; it completely outpaces it.

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