Bill Nighy has joined the cast of Alfonso Cuarón upcoming horror thriller series “Ascension” at Apple TV, Variety has learned.
Nighy will star in the show alongside previously announced lead Caitríona Balfe. It was originally announced with a series pickup at Apple in August and is inspired by the novel “Last Days” by Adam Nevill.
The logline for the series states that it follows Rose (Balfe), “a relentless documentary filmmaker and recently divorced mother, brilliant at uncovering others’ truths but struggling to resolve her own. When Rose begins a project on a mysterious 20th-century cult known as the Church of Ascension, she finds unexpected refuge in its teachings – until she discovers something far more insidious beneath.”
Exact details on Nighy’s role are being kept under wraps.
This is the latest recent casting announcement for Nighy, as it was previously reported he would guest star in “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” Season 2 at Paramount+. His other recent TV credits include “Ride or Die” and “Lazarus” at Amazon and “The Man Who Fell to Earth” at Showtime (now Paramount+). In film, Nighy received an Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe nomination for his work in 2023’s “Living.” He is also known for his work in the “Pirates of the Carribean” franchise, “Shaun of the Dead,” “Notes on a Scandal,” and “Love Actually.”
He is repped by Independent Talent in the U.K., UTA and Public Eye Communications.
Alfonso Cuarón is co-writer on the series along with his brother Carlos Cuarón as well as Natalie Erika James (“Apartment 7A,” “Relic”) and Christian White (“Apartment 7A,” “Relic”), with all four executive producing. James and White also serve as co-showrunners, with James serving as lead director. Balfe will executive produce in addition to starring. Alfonso executive produces under his Esperanto Filmoj banner, which has an overall TV deal with Apple.
Esperanto Filmoj’s Gabriela Rodriguez and Richard Schwartz will executive produce. Steve Golin, David Levine and Zack Hayden executive produce for Anonymous Content. Anonymous will produce the show, with Apple Studios serving as the studio.