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A month before its release, the first trailer for "Nocturne" has arrived. Liev Schreiber stars as an investigator who flees the big city for the countryside, where he confronts a serial killer. The source material is by the Swedish writing duo Lars Kepler – though Apple is no longer entirely clear on which books exactly.
Apple TV released the trailer and key art for "Nocturne" in a press release on September 29. Zazie Beetz and Stephen Graham star alongside Schreiber in the lead roles. The ten-episode series premieres worldwide on Friday, October 30.
Apple announced the series back in July, releasing initial images and a release date. Even then, it was clear that Apple TV would be adapting Lars Kepler's bestselling novels, relocating the story from Sweden to the USA. "Nocturne" is one of the last October releases in Apple TV's fall lineup.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Apple TV has released trailers and key art for "Nocturne".
- The series starts on October 30th with two episodes, followed by one episode every Friday until December 25th.
- Liev Schreiber plays a homicide detective, Stephen Graham the serial killer Jurek Walter, Zazie Beetz the FBI agent Saga Bauer
- Apple now only lists "The Sandman" as a source material; in July, it listed two novels.
What Nocturne is about
Schreiber plays Jonah Lynn, a former soldier and homicide detective who leaves the harsh streets of Philadelphia behind and moves to a small town in western Pennsylvania. His hoped-for peace is shattered when serial killer Jurek Walter targets the town and Jonah's family.
In the search for Jurek's last missing victim, Jonah is forced to assign FBI agent Saga Bauer, a kind of surrogate daughter to him, to the killer. The cast also includes Bill Camp, Rory Culkin, Chrissy Metz, Poorna Jagannathan, and Gary Carr.
Those familiar with the books will recognize two names: Jurek Walter and Saga Bauer retain their names in the series. However, Detective Joona Linna, the main character of the novels, is replaced by the American Jonah Lynn.
One fewer submission than in July
In its latest announcement, Apple only mentions "The Sandman" as the source material. At the July unveiling, two novels were listed: "The Sandman" and "Lazarus." In the first book, Kepler introduces the serial killer Jurek Walter; in the second, he returns.
Behind the pseudonym Lars Kepler are the Swedish married couple Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril, both of whom are involved as executive producers. According to Apple, the ten novels in the Joona Linna series have sold 20 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 40 languages.
Who is behind the series
The series was created for television by Rowan Joffé and developed by John Hlavin. Both co-write and jointly direct the production. The first two episodes are directed by Tim Van Patten, who has directed episodes of "The Sopranos" and "Boardwalk Empire," among others. "Nocturne" is produced by A+E Studios in association with Range Studios.
Ten episodes until Christmas
The series runs for nine weeks due to the weekly schedule. Here's an overview of the dates:
| Date | Episode |
|---|---|
| Friday, October 30 | 1 and 2 |
| Friday, November 6 | 3 |
| Friday, November 13 | 4 |
| Friday, November 20 | 5 |
| Friday, November 27 | 6 |
| Friday, December 4th | 7 |
| Friday, December 11 | 8 |
| Friday, December 18 | 9 |
| Friday, December 25 | 10 |
The final will therefore fall on Christmas Day.
A serial killer at the festival
I consider the move to Pennsylvania the series' biggest risk. Kepler's novels rely heavily on their Scandinavian setting, and a small American town is a setting the genre has used many times before. However, with Stephen Graham as Jurek Walter, Apple has cast an antagonist who can carry the character.
Those familiar with the books should view the series more as a retelling with familiar characters than as a faithful adaptation. And those who prefer to watch everything in one go should wait until December 25th – that's when the entire season will be available.
Have you read the Joona Linna books, and does the series appeal to you despite the new setting and new name for the detective – or do you prefer to stick with the original? Let us know in the comments which Kepler book is your favorite.
