Horror thriller series ‘Ascension’ in works, Caitriona Balfe to play lead role

WASHINGTON: Apple TV has greenlit the horror thriller series ‘Ascension’ from Alfonso Cuaron with Caitriona Balfe attached to play the lead role, reported Variety.

According to the outlet, Cuaron has been working on the series for years, with word of it first breaking in 2017 with Casey Affleck originally attached to star. It is inspired by the novel “Last Days” by Adam Nevill.

The logline for the show states that it follows Rose (Balfe), “a relentless documentary filmmaker and recently divorced mother, brilliant at uncovering others’ truths but struggling to resolve her own. When Rose begins a project on a mysterious 20th-century cult known as the Church of Ascension, she finds unexpected refuge in its teachings — until she discovers something far more insidious beneath”.

The deeper she looks, the darker it gets.

Alfonso Cuarón re-teams with Apple TV and Anonymous Content for a new psychological horror thriller series starring and executive produced by Caitríona Balfe about a documentary filmmaker investigating a mysterious cult.#Ascension —… pic.twitter.com/WTddbntxGd

— Apple TV (@AppleTV) August 10, 2026

According to the outlet, Alfonso Cuaron is co-writer on the series along with his brother Carlos Cuaron as well as Natalie Erika James and Christian White, with all four executive producing. James and White also serve as co-showrunners, with James serving as lead director.

Balfe will executive produce in addition to starring. Alfonso executive produces under his Esperanto Filmoj banner, which has an overall TV deal with Apple.

Esperanto Filmoj’s Gabriela Rodriguez and Richard Schwartz will executive produce. Steve Golin, David Levine and Zack Hayden executive produce for Anonymous Content. Anonymous will produce the show, with Apple Studios serving as the studio. (ANI)