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Netflix reveals 6-part thriller limited series Below with Josh Hartnett
Netflix has revealed details of Below, a six-part limited thriller series starring Josh Hartnett, Charlie Heaton and Mackenzie Davis, set to begin streaming on 8 October 2026. The show joins a wave of 2026 underwater creature productions, but distinguishes itself by keeping its sea monster mysterious rather than a straightforward shark, setting the story in a small Newfoundland fishing community terrorised by an unseen beast capable of destroying entire houseboats.
Hartnett plays Calvin Penney, a stubborn but big-hearted fisherman still haunted by his father's unexplained death years earlier, who must hold his community together as the creature attacks. Heaton plays his troubled son Wade, while Davis portrays a visiting marine researcher who joins Calvin to confront the threat and uncover the island's hidden history. The series is created by Jesse McKeown, previously a writer on Netflix's The Sinner and The Umbrella Academy, and blends local folklore, suspense and humour around themes of family and community.
In short
- Netflix's Below is a six-part thriller launching 8 October 2026.
- Stars Josh Hartnett, Charlie Heaton and Mackenzie Davis in Newfoundland setting.
- Follows a fisherman confronting a mysterious sea creature and family secrets.
Explained simply
Below is a new Netflix thriller about a fishing community in Newfoundland plagued by attacks from a mysterious sea creature. The series keeps the nature of the beast deliberately unclear, but suggests it is powerful enough to destroy houseboats and terrorise those who live there.
The main character is Calvin Penney, a fisherman played by Josh Hartnett, who is still dealing with the unexplained death of his own father and must now hold his community together during the creature's attacks. Charlie Heaton plays his troubled son Wade, and Mackenzie Davis portrays a marine researcher who arrives at the island to investigate the threat and uncover its secrets.
The show was created by Jesse McKeown, a writer previously behind Netflix's The Sinner and The Umbrella Academy. It is among several underwater creature stories released in 2026, but differs by centring on local folklore and themes of family and community rather than conventional monster action.
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