By Fatma Younis
Apple TV+ is set to debut "Nocturne," a 10-episode crime drama starring Stephen Graham as an imprisoned serial killer whose manipulative skills drive a complex investigation. The series premieres Friday, adapting Lars Kepler's novels "The Sandman" and "Lazarus" with the setting moved from Scandinavia to western Pennsylvania.
Adaptation and Setting
Created by John Hlavin and Rowan Joffé, the story begins when a kidnapped teenager reappears in the woods after three years, while his sister remains missing. Authorities, including a retired detective played by Liev Schreiber, must consult Graham's character, Jurek Walter, who is held in a secure psychiatric unit. The FBI sends an undercover agent, portrayed by Zazie Beetz, into the facility as an inmate to uncover whether Walter has an accomplice.
Cast Preparation and Production
Graham prepared for the role by binge-watching true-crime documentaries selected by his wife, Hannah, absorbing the manipulative behaviors of real killers. He and co-star Rory Culkin, who plays a hospital aide, built off-screen rapport through shared meals and outings to strengthen their on-screen dynamic. Beetz learned Dominican Spanish for a key introductory scene, while the crew used large fans to simulate wind in forest sequences, enhancing the visual contrast between the killer's confined cell and the expansive Pennsylvania landscape.
Director Tim Van Patten, an Emmy winner for "Boardwalk Empire" and "The Pacific," attracted Schreiber to the project. The creators emphasize a narrative that respects audience intelligence, avoiding exposition-heavy storytelling and instead dropping clues that require active viewing. Hlavin described the goal as making a familiar genre feel fresh, while Beetz highlighted the balance between providing enough context and preserving mystery.
