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MGM+ has greenlit the horror investigation series “The Black Tapes,” with “Game of Thrones” alum Nikolaj Coster-Waldau attached to star in the lead role.
The eight-episode series is based on the hit podcast of the same
name created by Terry Miles and Paul Bae, which originally debuted in 2015 and has over 60 million downloads. It will begin production in Vancouver in January.
The official logline states, “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. 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 TV series. Kearie Peak of Peak Pictures and John Rogers and Jennifer Court of Kung Fu Monkey Productions also executive produce. MGM+ Studios will produce.
“’The Black Tapes’ crafts a compelling story around our cultural fascination with the unexplained, while delivering the cinematic, classic storytelling that MGM+ audiences expect,” said Michael Wright, global head of MGM+. “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.”
The series will be available on MGM+ in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Latin America.
“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.”
Coster-Waldau is best known for his role as Jamie Lannister in the global hit HBO series “Game of Thrones,” on which he starred throughout its entire eight-season run. He earned two Emmy nominations during his time with the series. His other TV credits include “The Last Thing He Told Me” at Apple TV and the historical drama “King & Conqueror.” His film credits include “Against the Ice” (which he also co-wrote), “Shot Caller,” “The Other Woman,” and “Oblivion.”
He is repped by Range Media Partners, Sloane Offer, and Relevant.
“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+,” said Peak. “Reuniting with John Rogers and Michael Wright is incredibly exciting, and 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.”
