Nocturne, Apple TV’s new crime drama starring Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz and Stephen Graham, makes its global debut on Friday, October 30, according to Apple TV’s official announcement. The first two episodes arrive together, with new episodes every Friday through December 25, giving viewers a thriller to follow into Christmas.
That Nocturne Apple TV premiere matters because the series adapts Lars Kepler’s internationally bestselling crime novel The Sandman, part of the Joona Linna series that has sold 20 million copies worldwide, according to Apple and Film Industry Network’s premiere report. A proven literary source, a strong cast and a weekly release pattern give it a clear path to an audience.
A Detective, A Killer, And A Daughter In Danger
The series tells the story of Jonah Lynn, played by Schreiber, an ex-soldier turned homicide detective who leaves Philadelphia for a quiet life in a small town in western Pennsylvania, according to Apple. When the town and his family come under attack from the diabolically cunning serial killer Jurek Walter, played by Graham, Jonah must protect all that he holds dear.
When the search for Jurek’s last missing victim forces Jonah to send his surrogate daughter, FBI Agent Saga Bauer, played by Beetz, up against Jurek, the investigation becomes personal, Apple said. That relationship gives the series an emotional thread beyond the hunt for a dangerous criminal, as Jonah balances his duty as a detective with his fear for Saga.
The ensemble cast also includes Bill Camp, Rory Culkin, Chrissy Metz, Poorna Jagannathan and Gary Carr, according to Apple. The series is created for television by Rowan Joffe, who also writes and executive produces, and developed, written and executive produced by John Hlavin, with Tim Van Patten directing the opening episodes.
A World Premiere Before The Streaming Debut
Apple celebrated the world premiere of Nocturne at a red-carpet event at Regal Union Square in New York on October 20, according to Apple’s premiere report, with stars Schreiber, Beetz, Graham, Culkin, Metz, Jagannathan and Carr in attendance. That premiere, ten days before streaming, gave the series early press and social media attention.
The series was originally developed under the title Lazarus, with Tom Hardy initially attached, before Schreiber and Graham joined when it was greenlit in May 2025, according to its production history. Filming began in summer 2025 in Pittsburgh, with scenes shot in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.
For Apple TV, Nocturne joins a crowded late-October slate that includes Dexter: Resurrection season two and VisionQuest episodes, but its weekly Friday pattern sets it apart. Viewers who start on October 30 will have a new episode to look forward to each week, right through Christmas Day.
