Apple TV+ finally set the premiere date for Zazie Beetz and an X-Men star’s thriller
Apple TV just gave the Zazie Beetz series a new title and a release date, with an X-Men alum in the cast and a 10-episode first season landing later this year.
Right, there are a couple of big bits of news for Apple TV's upcoming crime series featuring Zazie Beetz and, a little out of left field, an X-Men alum. Let's get straight to it: the show has a new name, it's locked in a premiere date, and they've assembled a cast that's anything but subtle.
Retitled and Ready for Launch
This series previously went by the name 'Lazarus', which always sounded a tad generic. Apple, though, has decided 'Nocturne' will do the job instead. Not bad, has a bit more mood to it. The first season's set for 10 episodes and will land on Apple TV on 30th October 2026. Yes, rather close to Halloween — make of that what you will.
The Story and Source
Now, 'Nocturne' is based on the novels 'Lazarus' and 'The Sandman', both from Lars Kepler — which, in itself, is a bit of a twist. Lars Kepler's not a real person, but the combined pen name of Swedish husband-and-wife duo Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril. If you've stumbled over those books before, you'll know they're not exactly gentle bedtime reads.
The plot? Here it is — official logline style:
'When a victim of notorious serial killer Jurek Walter (played by Stephen Graham) unexpectedly turns up alive, detective Jonah Lynn (Liev Schreiber) races against time to track down the last person still missing, while his protege Saga Bauer (Zazie Beetz) goes undercover to get answers from the killer himself.'
Stacked Cast
No half-measures here. Alongside Beetz and Schreiber — who, if you've forgotten, did his time playing Victor Creed in 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' — you've got:
- Stephen Graham (yes, that Stephen Graham — 'This Is England', 'Venom', and countless hard men)
- Bill Camp
- Rory Culkin
- Poorna Jagannathan
- Chrissy Metz
- Gary Carr
Behind the Scenes
Rowan Joffe and John Hlavin are steering the ship as co-showrunners, co-writers, AND executive producers. That's a fair few hats. There's a mass of execs on board too — that's just the way these prestige telly series seem to run now:
Tim Van Patten will both executive produce and direct the opening two episodes (so the launch is in serious veteran hands). Liev Schreiber and Zazie Beetz are executive producing as well via their Sleepy Poppy company.
Also on the executive producer roster: Barry Jossen, Tana Jamieson (A+E Studios), Peter Micelli, Heather Kadin, Jack Whigham (Range Studios), both Ahndorils (as Lars Kepler), David Rysdahl, Oystein Karlsen, Niclas Salomonsson, and Dorothy Fortenberry.
The series comes courtesy of A+E Studios and Range Studios, and expect Apple to pour a bit of extra gloss on things. That's the line-up — and if you've been watching Apple TV's track record for crime dramas, this one ought to be a bit on the moody side. Just in time for autumn.