Nocturne Apple TV is one of the major new crime dramas arriving this fall, with Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz, and Stephen Graham leading a tense mystery inspired by Lars Kepler’s bestselling Joona Linna crime novels.
Apple TV released the official Nocturne trailer and key art on September 29, 2026, giving viewers their first extended look at the series and its central investigation. The 10-episode drama premieres globally on October 30, 2026, with two episodes launching first, followed by weekly episodes every Friday through December 25.
Here’s everything to know about Nocturne on Apple TV, including its release date, cast, story, trailer, episode schedule, book connection, and how to watch.
Nocturne Apple TV Release Date
Nocturne premieres on Apple TV on Friday, October 30, 2026.
Apple TV will release the first two episodes on premiere day. After that, a new episode will arrive every Friday through December 25, 2026.
The complete 10-episode schedule is:
Episode Release Date
Episodes 1–2 October 30, 2026
Episode 3 November 6, 2026
Episode 4 November 13, 2026
Episode 5 November 20, 2026
Episode 6 November 27, 2026
Episode 7 December 4, 2026
Episode 8 December 11, 2026
Episode 9 December 18, 2026
Episode 10 December 25, 2026
Apple has confirmed the 10-episode format and weekly Friday rollout.
What Is Nocturne About?
Nocturne follows Jonah Lynn, played by Liev Schreiber, an ex-soldier who becomes a homicide detective.
After years working the streets of Philadelphia, Jonah moves with his family to a small town in western Pennsylvania, hoping for a quieter life. Instead, his new home becomes connected to a dangerous investigation involving notorious serial killer Jurek Walter, played by Stephen Graham.
The investigation takes a darker turn when one of Jurek’s former victims unexpectedly turns up alive. Jonah must race to find another victim who remains missing while attempting to understand how the killer continues to exert influence from behind bars.
Jonah eventually turns to Saga Bauer, his surrogate daughter and an FBI agent played by Zazie Beetz. Saga goes undercover to get information from Jurek himself, putting her directly inside the killer’s orbit.
The official Apple TV synopsis asks how far Jonah will go to protect the people he loves as the investigation closes in on his own family.
Nocturne Cast
The Nocturne cast is led by three major actors: Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz, and Stephen Graham.
Liev Schreiber as Jonah Lynn
Liev Schreiber stars as Jonah Lynn, an ex-soldier turned homicide detective.
Jonah leaves Philadelphia looking for a quieter life, but his new surroundings quickly become connected to the investigation into Jurek Walter.
Schreiber also serves as an executive producer on the series.
Zazie Beetz as Saga Bauer
Zazie Beetz plays Saga Bauer, an FBI agent and Jonah’s surrogate daughter.
Saga becomes central to the investigation when she goes undercover in an attempt to get answers from Jurek Walter.
Beetz is also an executive producer through her production company, Sleepy Poppy.
Stephen Graham as Jurek Walter
Stephen Graham plays Jurek Walter, the notorious serial killer at the center of the investigation.
The trailer puts Graham’s character at the heart of the psychological conflict, with Jurek apparently able to manipulate events even while imprisoned.
The role gives Graham another major crime-drama performance following his recent television work.
Additional Nocturne Cast
The supporting cast includes:
- Bill Camp
- Rory Culkin
- Chrissy Metz
- Poorna Jagannathan
- Gary Carr
- Landon Valentin
Apple’s official series information confirms Schreiber, Beetz, Graham, and Bill Camp among the principal cast, while the trailer materials and Apple TV listings provide the broader ensemble.
Nocturne Trailer
The official Nocturne trailer was released by Apple TV on September 29, 2026.
The trailer introduces Jonah Lynn’s investigation and establishes Jurek Walter as the dangerous figure behind the mystery. It also highlights Saga Bauer’s undercover mission and the increasingly personal stakes surrounding the case.
The trailer reinforces the show’s crime-thriller tone, with Jonah trying to find the missing victim while confronting a killer who appears capable of influencing the investigation even from prison.
Watch the official trailer: Nocturne — Apple TV Press.
Is Nocturne Based on a Book?
Yes. Nocturne is based on the bestselling crime fiction of Lars Kepler, the pen name of Swedish writing team Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril.
Apple describes the series as being based on the internationally bestselling novels The Sandman and Lazarus, which are part of the Joona Linna crime series.
The Joona Linna books have become an international publishing success. According to Apple, the 10 published novels in the series have sold 20 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 40 languages, with distribution across more than 170 territories.
That literary background gives Nocturne a much larger mystery world to draw from than a standalone television crime story.
Who Is Jurek Walter?
Jurek Walter is the serial killer at the center of Nocturne and is played by Stephen Graham.
The character originates in Lars Kepler’s Joona Linna crime universe and is one of the most important antagonists connected to the novels.
In the television adaptation, Jurek’s imprisonment does not necessarily end his influence. The investigation into missing victims forces Jonah and Saga to deal with a criminal who remains psychologically dangerous even when physically contained.
That relationship between detective, undercover agent, and imprisoned killer is one of the central elements introduced by the trailer.
Who Created Nocturne?
Nocturne has two major creative forces behind its television adaptation.
Rowan Joffé created the series for television and serves as a writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner.
John Hlavin developed the series for television and serves as writer, executive producer, and showrunner.
The series also has Tim Van Patten directing the first two episodes and serving as an executive producer. Other directors include Allen Coulter.
The series is produced for Apple TV by A+E Studios in association with Range Studios.
Is Nocturne the Same as the Netflix Movie?
No.
There are several different entertainment projects using the name Nocturne, which makes the title particularly difficult to search for on Google.
Apple TV’s Nocturne is a 2026 crime thriller series starring Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz and Stephen Graham.
It should not be confused with the 2020 Netflix film Nocturne, which starred Sydney Sweeney, or with Castlevania: Nocturne.
For viewers searching specifically for the new series, Nocturne Apple TV is the clearest way to distinguish the 2026 show.
How Many Episodes Will Nocturne Have?
Nocturne has 10 episodes in Season 1.
Apple TV will launch the first two episodes together on October 30. The remaining eight episodes will then arrive weekly on Fridays, with the season finale scheduled for December 25, 2026.
This makes Nocturne a weekly-release crime mystery rather than a full-season binge release.
For more upcoming movie and TV release information, see FilmRadar’s Upcoming Movies 2026 guide.
How to Watch Nocturne
Nocturne is an Apple TV original series and will stream exclusively through Apple TV.
The series makes its global debut on October 30, 2026, with the first two episodes available on launch day. New episodes will follow every Friday.
You can find the official series page on Apple TV.
Apple TV is available through the Apple TV app and at the Apple TV website on supported devices and platforms.
What Makes Nocturne Different From a Typical Crime Drama?
The biggest distinguishing feature is its connection to the Joona Linna novels.
Rather than creating a completely new detective and killer for television, Nocturne brings characters and elements from Lars Kepler’s established crime-fiction universe to the screen.
The series also has a particularly strong central trio. Schreiber’s detective Jonah Lynn is caught between his desire to protect his family and his responsibility to solve the case, while Beetz’s Saga Bauer is forced into an undercover operation involving Graham’s Jurek Walter.
The combination of a bestselling literary source, a high-profile cast, and a weekly Apple TV release gives Nocturne plenty of room to build its mystery throughout the fall.
Nocturne Apple TV: Everything You Need to Know
DetailInformation
Title Nocturne
Platform Apple TV
Premiere Date October 30, 2026
Episodes 10
Release Pattern First 2 episodes, then weekly
Finale December 25, 2026
Genre Crime / Thriller
Lead Liev Schreiber
Also Starring Zazie Beetz, Stephen Graham
Based On Lars Kepler’s Joona Linna crime novels
Creators Rowan Joffé, John Hlavin
Original Language English
Final Thoughts
Nocturne Apple TV arrives at an interesting moment for the streaming crime-thriller genre. The series combines a bestselling international book universe with a cast led by Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz and Stephen Graham.
The October 30 premiere is only the beginning. With 10 episodes and a weekly release continuing through Christmas Day, viewers will have several weeks to follow Jonah Lynn, Saga Bauer and Jurek Walter as the mystery unfolds.
The official trailer now gives the clearest look yet at what Apple TV has planned, while the connection to Lars Kepler’s Joona Linna novels adds another layer for fans of crime fiction.
For now, the key date to remember is October 30, 2026, when the first two episodes of Nocturne arrive on Apple TV.