Strike Back is a British/American action and military television series, based on a novel of the same name by novelist and former Special Air Service (SAS) soldier Chris Ryan. The series follows the actions of Section 20, a secretive branch of the British Defence Intelligence service (DI), who operate several high risk, priority missions throughout the globe. Executive producer Andy Harries gained hold of the novel and pitched a television adaption to Sky, even though he had not read it. Sky commissioned the series as part of a £10 million commitment to adapt novels into original dramas following the successes of adapting Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. Following Cinemax's participation from the second series, the series faced a re-imagining due to the absence of first series lead Richard Armitage, who was at the time filming The Hobbit in New Zealand. Before filming several cast members participated in bootcamp training by former SAS and Special Boat Service (SBS) officers. The series was filmed on location in South Africa, although parts of the second series were filmed in Hungary. With Chetri in the wind and Carolyn on their tail, Novin, Wyatt and Coltrane are blacklisted and left with scant resources. S20 seeks the help of Russian allies to combat Russian foes, and the hunt for Zayef's hard drive marches on. S20 plans to storm a freighter carrying weapons, but when Spencer administers a kill order, Coltrane grows suspicious. As members of S20 contemplate following their conscience, Zayef divulges intel that could drastically change their fate. Spencer joins S20 to take down Zayef for good. But when intel leads them back to the Demachi's, S20 finds itself embroiled in a feud that may expedite Zayef's plans and place military-grade weapons in the hands of terrorists across Europe. Long after the incident in Munich, Wyatt and Novin reunite with Mac, who has since left the military. But while he lives out a seemingly idyllic existence with his wife and daughter, his violent past haunts him.