Nikolaj Coster-Waldau to Lead MGM+ Horror Series 'The Black Tapes'

MGM+ has greenlit "The Black Tapes," an eight-episode horror investigation series starring "Game of Thrones" alum Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, with production set to begin in Vancouver in January.

The series adapts the hit podcast of the same name created by Terry Miles and Paul Bae. The podcast debuted in 2015 and has logged more than 60 million downloads. Coster-Waldau will lead the cast as Dr. Richard Strand, a brilliant psychiatrist with a mysterious past.

What is the series about?

The official logline lays out the premise in full. "Dr. Richard Strand (Coster-Waldau), a brilliant psychiatrist with a mysterious past, teams with the obsessed, relentless scientist Alex Regan to debunk paranormal cases of hauntings, possessions, disappearances, and sinister legends – the infamous black tapes," it reads. "But as Strand and Regan unravel the secrets of these events, they uncover a hidden occult world behind our own and must unravel a centuries-old apocalyptic conspiracy."

Miles and Bae will serve as writers and executive producers on the television adaptation. The executive producer roster also includes Kearie Peak of Peak Pictures and John Rogers and Jennifer Court of Kung Fu Monkey Productions. MGM+ Studios produces.

Michael Wright, global head of MGM+, announced the pickup with a statement framing the show's appeal. "'The Black Tapes' crafts a compelling story around our cultural fascination with the unexplained, while delivering the cinematic, classic storytelling that MGM+ audiences expect," Wright said. "With Nikolaj's compelling presence and the creative vision of John Rogers, Kearie Peak and our talented production team, we're excited to make something that is both provocative and hugely entertaining."

Who is behind the adaptation?

Rogers, who executive produces through Kung Fu Monkey Productions, said the project began for him as a personal obsession. "I was an early and passionate fan of 'The Black Tapes' podcast," Rogers said. "It's a unique blend of truly unsettling horror and puzzle-box conspiracy mystery. With Paul and Terry not just executive producing, but also in the writer's room, we have a chance to both bring 'The Black Tapes' to a new generation of genre fans and deepen and expand the mythos in ways that will surprise long-time supernatural horror fans."

Peak, reuniting with Rogers and Wright on the project, addressed the casting directly. "I've always been a sucker for a great conspiracy story, and 'The Black Tapes' combines that irresistible investigative element with the supernatural horror our team knows so well—a perfect fit for MGM+," Peak said. "Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is an inspired choice for Dr. Strand, bringing exactly the intelligence, complexity, and mystery the role demands. We couldn't be more thrilled to have him aboard."

Where can viewers watch it?

MGM+ will carry the series in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Latin America — a footprint that signals the channel's international ambitions for the property.

Coster-Waldau is best known as Jaime Lannister in HBO's "Game of Thrones," a role he held across all eight seasons and that earned him two Emmy nominations. His television credits also include "The Last Thing He Told Me" at Apple TV+ and the historical drama "King & Conqueror." His film work spans "Against the Ice," which he co-wrote, "Shot Caller," "The Other Woman" and "Oblivion." He is repped by Range Media Partners, Sloane Offer and Relevant.

What does this change for MGM+? The greenlit series gives the channel a marquee genre lead and a proven intellectual property with a built-in audience of millions, with cameras rolling in Vancouver in January.