Summary:
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In The Amateur, Sarah Heller is killed by mercenary Sean Schiller during a staged terrorist attack in London.
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Deputy CIA Director Moore orchestrates the false flag operation that led to her death.
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Though Schiller pulled the trigger, Moore bears full responsibility as the mastermind.
Who Killed Sarah in The Amateur (2025)?
In The Amateur (2025), Sarah Heller, played by Rachel Brosnahan, is killed during a terrorist attack in London. While the man who directly pulled the trigger was rogue mercenary Sean Schiller (Michael Stuhlbarg), her death was the result of a much larger conspiracy. The entire attack was a false flag operation ordered by Deputy CIA Director Alex Moore (Holt McCallany) as part of an off-the-books black ops agenda.
The group responsible for the staged terrorist event included Schiller, Gretchen Frank, Mishka Blazhic, and Ellish. They were hired by Moore, who planned the operation without CIA oversight. Sarah wasn’t an intended target—she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her attempt to save another hostage during the chaos led to her being taken and ultimately executed by Schiller.
While Schiller justifies her killing as “part of the job,” the real blame lies with Moore. He orchestrated the mission, supplied the funding, and gave the order. Without Moore’s illegal operation, Sarah’s death would not have occurred.
Why Did Sean Schiller Kill Sarah During the Attack?
Sean Schiller kills Sarah as part of his team’s exit strategy during the staged attack. As the leader of the hired mercenaries, Schiller was tasked with executing Moore’s false flag operation in a way that made it appear like a real terrorist act. When Sarah tries to help another civilian during the chaos, she is taken hostage.
In the film’s final act, Schiller reveals to Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) that he shot Sarah to prevent pursuit by law enforcement. He considered it necessary to maintain the illusion of the operation and ensure their escape. Schiller, a career killer for hire, does not view the death as personal—just another step in a job he was paid to complete.
Even so, his explanation does little to justify the killing. Sarah wasn’t a threat or a planned target. Her compassion and bravery placed her in harm’s way, and Schiller, executing Moore’s orders, made a cold, tactical choice.
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Did Deputy CIA Director Moore Order Sarah’s Death in The Amateur?
Deputy Director Moore didn’t specifically order Sarah’s death, but he created the conditions that made it possible. By commissioning the London attack without oversight, hiring Schiller’s team, and giving them full operational autonomy, he became the architect of the mission that claimed her life.
Moore had a history of conducting unauthorized black ops missions. Throughout The Amateur, it’s revealed that he manipulated CIA resources and ignored legal boundaries for years. His actions were protected by a system that looked the other way—as long as the results benefited U.S. intelligence.
While Moore may not have named Sarah as a target, his total control over the operation makes him ultimately responsible. As CIA Director O’Brien (Julianna Nicholson) later uncovers, Moore had been abusing his authority for decades. Once exposed, he and Schiller are arrested and brought to justice.
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Why Didn’t the CIA Help Charlie Avenge Sarah’s Death?
At first, the CIA doesn’t support Charlie Heller in avenging Sarah’s death. In fact, the agency—especially Moore and Caleb (Danny Sapani)—actively tries to stop him. Heller, a skilled CIA data analyst, had begun digging into black ops files that hinted at Moore’s unauthorized missions. Realizing this, Moore seeks to neutralize Heller before he can expose the conspiracy.
They hand Heller off to field agent trainer Henderson (Laurence Fishburne), hoping to contain the situation. However, Heller escapes, uses the training to his advantage, and goes off the grid to track down the four operatives involved.
Eventually, members of the CIA—including Director O’Brien—realize Heller’s pursuit may lead to Moore’s exposure. With the help of The Bear (Jon Bernthal), a covert agent with past ties to Heller, support shifts in his favor. By the end of the film, some within the agency acknowledge that Heller did what they couldn’t: take down Moore’s criminal operation from the outside.
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Was the CIA Responsible for Sarah’s Death in The Amateur?
While the entire CIA wasn’t directly involved, Sarah’s death was the result of CIA corruption. The mission that killed her was executed by mercenaries on Moore’s payroll. That corruption was tolerated, or ignored, by others in power—making the institution complicit, even if unknowingly.
Former CIA Directors may have chosen not to question Moore’s operations, especially when the results seemed to serve U.S. interests. But Director O’Brien’s investigation shows how deep Moore’s deception ran. The agency’s failure to monitor its own leadership allowed his abuse of power to flourish—and that failure cost innocent lives, including Sarah’s.
Still, it’s important not to assign blanket blame to every member of the CIA. While some figures like Caleb played along, others—like O’Brien and The Bear—stepped up when the truth came out. Ultimately, the death was caused by individuals abusing the system, not the system itself.
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The Amateur (2025) premiered in U.S. theaters on April 5, 2025. A streaming release date has not yet been announced, but the original 1981 version is available on Hulu.
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