Below: Netflix's New Sea Creature Thriller Starring Josh Hartnett Drops October 8 — Here's Your First Look

If you've been craving a good creature feature with real dramatic weight, Netflix just answered the call. Below, a new six-episode limited series, just got its first-look photos and an official release date of October 8, 2026 — and it looks absolutely haunting.

What Is Below About?

Set in the rugged, fog-drenched landscape of Newfoundland, Canada, Below follows Calvin Penney (played by Josh Hartnett), a big-hearted but stubborn fisherman still haunted by his father's mysterious death decades earlier. When an unidentified sea creature starts terrorizing his small coastal town, Calvin is forced to team up with Fonda Howander (Mackenzie Davis), a visiting marine researcher, to protect his son Wade (Charlie Heaton) and the entire community.

Think Jaws meets The Host, but with the intimate, character-driven storytelling of a prestige drama. Creator Jesse McKeown — who previously wrote for The Umbrella Academy and 19-2 — developed the series, describing Newfoundland as a place that's both "rugged, dangerous, isolated, scary" and full of warmth and humor. It's the kind of setting that practically begs for a monster story.

A Stacked Cast With Serious Genre Cred

The casting here is honestly kind of insane. Josh Hartnett is riding high after Oppenheimer and Trap, proving he's in the middle of a full-blown career renaissance. Charlie Heaton is fresh off Stranger Things Season 5 — so yeah, he knows a thing or two about fighting otherworldly creatures. And Mackenzie Davis brings her genre chops from Station Eleven, Speak No Evil, and Blade Runner 2049.

The supporting cast includes Ruby Stokes, Kaleb Horn, Willow Kean, and Rohan Campbell. Behind the camera, directors include Jamie Childs (The Sandman, His Dark Materials) and Helen Shaver (The Penguin, Station Eleven). The writing team features Karen Walton (Orphan Black) and Perry Chafe (Saint-Pierre).

Hartnett told Entertainment Weekly that the scripts hooked him immediately: "I read the first two scripts in less than an hour. The voice was so clear, the concept was so engaging, and the character was fantastic. I'd never read anything like it before."

Why This Should Be on Your Radar

Netflix has been on a tear in 2026 with genre content — from Stranger Things Season 5 dominating the charts to Bridgerton Season 4 becoming the streamer's biggest release of the year. Below slots perfectly into their fall lineup as a prestige creature feature with real emotional depth.

At just six episodes, it's also the kind of tight, binge-worthy limited series that doesn't overstay its welcome. The Newfoundland setting alone makes it visually distinctive — expect moody coastlines, crashing waves, and plenty of atmosphere. Combined with the "mysterious sea creature" premise and a cast this talented, Below could easily become Netflix's next obsession.

Below premieres October 8, 2026, exclusively on Netflix. Mark your calendars — this one's going to be a ride.