Bill Nighy joins Ascension, Apple TV’s forthcoming horror thriller from Alfonso Cuarón, starring opposite previously announced lead Caitríona Balfe. Apple ordered the series in August, with the story drawing inspiration from Adam Nevill’s novel Last Days.
Balfe plays Rose, a determined documentary filmmaker and recently divorced mother who excels at exposing other people’s secrets while making rather less progress with her own. Her latest project examines the Church of Ascension, a mysterious 20th-century cult whose teachings initially offer her an unexpected sense of refuge.
That comfort does not last. Rose soon discovers something much more sinister beneath the group’s doctrine, which is generally where cult documentaries stop being professionally inconvenient and become actively dangerous.
Apple has not revealed whom Nighy will play.
Who is making the series?
Alfonso Cuarón is co-writing Ascension with Carlos Cuarón, Natalie Erika James and Christian White. All four will also serve as executive producers.
James and White, whose credits include Apartment 7A and Relic, are the co-showrunners. James will also act as lead director. Balfe is an executive producer as well as the show’s star.
Cuarón executive produces through Esperanto Filmoj, which has an overall television deal with Apple. Gabriela Rodriguez and Richard Schwartz will executive produce for the company.
Steve Golin, David Levine and Zack Hayden are executive producers for Anonymous Content, which will produce the series. Apple Studios is the studio.
Nighy adds another television role
The casting continues a busy run for Nighy. He is also due to guest star in the second season of Paramount+ series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
His recent television credits include Amazon projects Ride or Die and Lazarus, along with Showtime’s The Man Who Fell to Earth. On film, his performance in Living earned him Academy Award, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations in 2023.
Nighy’s wider film career includes the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Shaun of the Dead, Notes on a Scandal and Love Actually. He is represented by Independent Talent in the United Kingdom, United Talent Agency and Public Eye Communications.
