Apple TV+’s ‘Cape Fear’ Limited Series: Premiere Date, Cast, and Plot

A storm is coming to Apple TV+. In what is quickly becoming a masterclass in cornering the market on prestige thrillers, the streamer has officially set a global premiere date for its reimagining of Cape Fear. This 10-episode limited series is scheduled to debut on Friday, June 5, 2026, launching with its first two episodes.

Apple TV+ has assembled a production pedigree that is frankly unprecedented for a limited series, creating a “full-circle” moment for the franchise. The series represents a high-stakes collaboration between UCP (a division of Universal Studio Group) and Amblin Television, developed through creator Nick Antosca’s long-standing overall deal at UCP.

The creative “dream team” includes:

• Nick Antosca: The visionary creator, showrunner, and executive producer behind The Act and Brand New Cherry Flavor brings his signature eerie precision to the project via his production banner, Eat The Cat.
• Martin Scorsese: Serving as executive producer, the Academy Award-winner returns to the material he famously redefined in his 1991 remake.
• Steven Spielberg: The Academy Award-winning legend serves as executive producer for Amblin Television, reuniting with Scorsese after producing the 1991 feature.
• Morten Tyldum: The Academy Award-nominated filmmaker behind The Imitation Game will direct the pilot episode and serve as executive producer.
• Executive Producers: Alex Hedlund (Eat The Cat) and the Amblin duo of Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey.

The series is anchored by a formidable pairing of talent that guarantees an acting showcase of the highest order. Leading the charge are Academy Award-winner Javier Bardem and multi-Academy Award-nominee Amy Adams, both of whom also serve as executive producers. Their involvement signals a level of commitment to the material that goes beyond mere performance.

The production has also recruited a “deep bench” of seasoned character actors and rising stars to populate this claustrophobic world:

• Javier Bardem as the chilling Max Cady.
• Amy Adams as Anna Bowden.
• Patrick Wilson (Golden Globe and Emmy nominee) as Tom Bowden.
• Supporting Cast: The ensemble is rounded out by heavy hitters including CCH Pounder (The Shield), Jamie Hector (The Wire), Joe Anders, Lily Collias, Malia Pyles, and Anna Baryshnikov.

This 10-episode psychological horror thriller moves the needle by refocusing the lens on the professional and personal betrayals inherent in the legal system. The narrative follows happily married attorneys Anna and Tom Bowden, whose meticulously constructed lives are shattered by the release of Max Cady.

Cady, a notorious killer, holds the Bowdens directly responsible for his incarceration. His return isn’t just a haunting; it is a calculated campaign of terror. By utilizing the 10-episode format, the series allows for a slow-burn exploration of psychological horror that the previous feature films simply didn’t have the runtime to exhaust. This is a story of professional duty clashing with primal survival.

While the series is a fresh vision for a modern audience, it remains deeply respectful of its storied lineage. The foundation remains John D. MacDonald’s novel The Executioners, which first inspired the 1962 Gregory Peck-led film. However, this iteration draws its primary creative DNA from the 1991 Scorsese-directed and Spielberg-produced remake. By expanding this narrative into a limited series, the production team can dive deeper into the themes of guilt and retribution that have made this story a staple of American cinema for over sixty years.

Release Schedule and Availability

Cape Fear will be available exclusively to Apple TV+ subscribers worldwide. Mark your calendars for the following rollout:

Stay tuned to Outloud Culture for episode breakdowns, and further updates as we count down to the June 2026 premiere.