Cape Fear
Genre Psychological thriller
Created by Nick Antosca
Based on
  • The Executioners
    by John D. MacDonald
  • Cape Fear
    by Wesley Strick
  • Cape Fear
    by James R. Webb
Starring
  • Javier Bardem
  • Amy Adams
  • Patrick Wilson
  • Joe Anders
  • Lily Collias
  • CCH Pounder
Music by Jeff Russo
Country of origin United States
Original language English
No. of episodes 2
Production
Executive producers
  • Martin Scorsese
  • Steven Spielberg
  • Nick Antosca
  • Darryl Frank
  • Justin Falvey
  • Alex Hedlund
  • Richard Heus
  • Amy Adams
  • Javier Bardem
  • Amanda Marsalis
  • Morten Tyldum
Producers
  • Brette Billow
  • David Kirschner
  • Greg O'Bryant
Cinematography
  • Eben Bolter
  • Celiana Cárdenas
Editors
  • Greg O'Bryant
  • Darrin Navarro
Running time 49–55 minutes
Production companies
  • Sikelia Productions
  • Amblin Television
  • Eat the Cat
  • Universal Content Productions
Original release
Network Apple TV
Release June 5, 2026 (2026-06-05) –
present

Cape Fear is an American psychological thriller television miniseries created by Nick Antosca, based on the novel The Executioners by John D. MacDonald and its film adaptations in 1962 and 1991. It is produced by Eat the Cat, Universal Content Productions, and Amblin Television. It premiered on June 5, 2026.[1]

Premise

Max Cady, a vicious and unreformed ex-convict, is released from prison and sets about taking revenge on Tom and Anna Bowden, the married couple who represented him 17 years earlier in court, by using his knowledge of the law to evade punishment.

Cast

Main

  • Javier Bardem as Max Cady, a sociopathic ex-convict released after serving seventeen years for the murder of his pregnant wife
  • Amy Adams as Anna Bowden, a senior attorney at the Savannah Justice League Project and Tom's wife[2]
  • Patrick Wilson as Tom Bowden, a prosecutor and Anna's husband
  • Joe Anders as Zack Bowden, Anna and Tom's troubled son and Natalie's younger half-brother
  • Lily Collias as Natalie Bowden, Anna's daughter, Tom's stepdaughter, and Zack's older half-sister
  • CCH Pounder as Noa Toussaint, Anna's colleague and director of SJLP

Guest

  • Jamie Hector as Ray Rawlins, a private investigator employed by SJLP
  • Anna Baryshnikov as Tabitha, a journalist doing a story on Anna
  • Margarita Levieva as Lexi
  • Geneva Carr as a legal commentator reporting on Cady's release
  • Jullian Dulce Vida as Byron French, a wrongfully convicted inmate represented by SJLP
  • Lynn Wanlass as Bunny French, Byron's mother
  • Kathleen Scott Paul as Amy Brancato, Cady's deceased mistress who takes responsibility for his crime
  • Eric Mendenhall as Louis Pilgrim, Zack's classmate and former friend
  • Dot Cloud as Callie, a friend of Natalie
  • Felisha Terrell as Mara Rawlins, Ray's wife
  • Samantha Clifford as Hope
  • Paul Calderón as the Padrino, the leader of a prison gang
  • Paul Schneider as Grayson, a detective
  • Wesley Strick as an ER doctor treating Zack
  • Roberto Sanchez as Ruben Ramirez, an inmate represented by SJLP
  • Miles Mussenden as Carson, a detective
  • Jay Huguley as Paul, Anna's ex-fiancée and Natalie's biological father
  • Ted Levine as Brandon Deveraux, Anna's estranged father
  • Malia Pyles as Nevaeh Valentine
  • Ron Perlman
  • Patrick Fischler

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by [3] Original release date [4]
1 "Fingers & Toes" Morten Tyldum Nick Antosca June 5, 2026 (2026-06-05)
Anna Bowden is a defense attorney and co-director of the Savannah Justice League Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to freeing wrongfully convicted inmates. At a meeting to celebrate the release of her latest client, Byron French, Anna and her husband Tom are informed that Max Cady has been released; seventeen years earlier, in 2008, Anna defended Max at trial for brutally stabbing his pregnant wife to death and convinced him to take a plea bargain proposed by Tom, the prosecutor. Max was given a life sentence, but new evidence recovered following the suicide of his old mistress seemingly proved that she, not Max, committed the murder. Byron is found dead next to the corpse of his ailing mother. Anna hosts a fundraiser to boost SJLP's sagging finances, at which Max makes his public debut. Claiming to represent those wronged by "the injustice system", he attains instant fame and soon attracts an offer from Anna's colleague Noa to help publicize their work. Tom and Anna learn that their son Zack, who is struggling with anxiety after being suspended from school, has disappeared.
2 "Why Would I Want to Hurt You?" SJ Clarkson André Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton June 5, 2026 (2026-06-05)
Zack returns home bloodied, under the influence, and with a toe severed from his foot. Max surprises the Bowdens at home and makes subtle threats, implying that he kidnapped and tortured Zack as a form of revenge. Natalie finds clues that Max broke into their house; this is enough for Anna to send an anonymous tip to the police. Max resists arrest and is taken to the same hospital where Zack is being treated. The severed toe is found after he vomits the contents of his stomach; the attending doctor notes that Zack could have simply bit his own toe off in a drugged state, which combined with Max's attendance at the fundraiser gives him a solid alibi for the alleged kidnapping. Taking up SJLP's offer to help advocate for inmates, Max gives an interview where he reveals his troubled childhood and admits that, in his mind, he sees hallucinations of his dead wife and unborn son due to neurological damage he sustained from a prison fight. Tom has a run in with his unpleasant father-in-law, Brandon. While touring a house he plans to buy, Max sits and once again sees his family watching him.
3 "Phantom Sensations"[5] Amanda Marsalis Alan Page Arriaga June 12, 2026 (2026-06-12)
4 "Pierced"[6] Reed Morano Tara Shivkumar June 19, 2026 (2026-06-19)
5 "Faith"[7] Steven Piet Peter Blake June 26, 2026 (2026-06-26)
6 "Possum"[8] Trey Edward Shults Brian Evenson July 3, 2026 (2026-07-03)
7 "Mongrel"[9] Jon S. Baird Story by : André Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton & Greg Goetz
Teleplay by : André Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton		 July 10, 2026 (2026-07-10)
8 "Los tiempos de Dios son Perfectos"[10] Stephen Williams Alan Page Arriaga July 17, 2026 (2026-07-17)
9 "The Scar"[11] Amanda Marsalis Diana Pawell & Peter Blake July 24, 2026 (2026-07-24)
10 TBA TBA Nick Antosca & Peter Blake & Tara Shivkumar July 31, 2026 (2026-07-31)

Production

Nick Antosca was a fan of both Cape Fear movies since childhood, and he asked Universal to develop an adaptation of them. He began development of the series through his deal with Universal Content Productions along with Amblin Television. Development of the show was first announced in November 2023 as the project sought buyers.[12] In April 2024, it was revealed the series was in development at Apple TV+.[13] The series would receive a greenlight in November, with Javier Bardem cast in the lead role of Max Cady.[14] In February 2025, Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson joined the starring cast.[15][16] In April 2025, it was revealed that CCH Pounder joined the main cast, with Morten Tyldum now onboard to executive produce and direct the pilot.[17] In May 2025, Anna Baryshnikov, Jamie Hector, Clara Wong, Lily Collias, Joe Anders and Malia Pyles joined the cast.[18][19] Ron Perlman, Ted Levine, Jason Scott Morgan and Margarita Levieva were added to the cast in September 2025, with Levieva replacing Wong in her role.[20] In October 2025, Patrick Fischler was cast in a recurring role.[21]

Filming began in Atlanta on April 30, 2025 and wrapped on October 15, 2025.[22][23][24]

Release

The series was released on Apple TV on June 5, 2026, with the first two episodes available immediately and the rest debuting on a weekly basis until July 31.[1]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 75%, based on 53 reviews, with an average of rated reviews of 7.0/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Elevated by Javier Bardem's manic charisma and the genre's best pulpy intricacies, Cape Fear revitalizes the revenge thriller and manages to make a noteworthy name for itself."[25] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 68 out of 100 based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[26]

References

  1. ^ a b Campione, Katie (February 3, 2026). "'Cape Fear', Apple TV's Psychological Thriller Series, Sets Summer Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  2. ^ Tinubu, Aramide (June 3, 2026). "Javier Bardem and Amy Adams' 'Cape Fear' Is a Worthy and Disturbing Psychological Thriller: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  3. ^ "Cape Fear". Writers Guild of America West. October 15, 2025. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  4. ^ "Shows A-Z - Cape Fear on Apple TV". The Futon Critic. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  5. ^ "Cape Fear, Season 01, Episode 103, Phantom Sensations". Australian Classification. Australian Classification Board. May 11, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  6. ^ "Cape Fear, Season 01, Episode 104, Pierced". Australian Classification. Australian Classification Board. May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  7. ^ "Cape Fear, Season 01, Episode 105, Faith". Australian Classification. Australian Classification Board. May 13, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  8. ^ "Cape Fear, Season 01, Episode 106, Possum". Australian Classification. Australian Classification Board. May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  9. ^ "Cape Fear, Season 01, Episode 107, Mongrel". Australian Classification. Australian Classification Board. May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  10. ^ "Cape Fear, Season 01, Episode 108, Los tiempos de Dios son Perfectos". Australian Classification. Australian Classification Board. May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  11. ^ "Cape Fear, Season 01, Episode 109, The Scar". Australian Classification. Australian Classification Board. May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 21, 2023). "Cape Fear Series From Nick Antosca, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese & UCP Heats Up TV Marketplace". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
  13. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (April 17, 2024). "Ageless Auteurs: Scorsese Eyes Frank Sinatra Biopic With Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, Spielberg Tackling UFO Movie and More". Variety. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 18, 2024). "Cape Fear: Javier Bardem To Star In Apple TV+ Series From Nick Antosca, Martin Scorsese & Steven Spielberg". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  15. ^ Porter, Rick (February 11, 2025). "Amy Adams Boards Cape Fear Series at Apple". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  16. ^ Petski, Denise (February 25, 2025). "Patrick Wilson Joins Javier Bardem & Amy Adams In Apple's Cape Fear". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  17. ^ Otterson, Joe (April 7, 2025). "'Cape Fear' Series at Apple TV+ Casts CCH Pounder, Sets Morten Tyldum to Direct Pilot (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  18. ^ Grobar, Matt (May 6, 2025). "Anna Baryshnikov, Jamie Hector & Clara Wong Latest To Join Apple's 'Cape Fear' TV Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  19. ^ Grobar, Matt (2025-05-12). "Lily Collias, Joe Anders & Malia Pyles Round Out Main Cast Of Apple's 'Cape Fear' TV Series". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  20. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 3, 2025). "Cape Fear Apple Series Adds Ron Perlman, Ted Levine & Margarita Levieva To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  21. ^ Petski, Denise (October 16, 2025). "Patrick Fischler Joins Hulu's 'Paradise' Season 2 & Apple TV's 'Cape Fear' In Recurring Roles". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  22. ^ Ho, Rodney (February 27, 2025). "Apple TV+ 'Cape Fear' series shooting in Atlanta with Amy Adams, Javier Bardem". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  23. ^ "Now Filming in Georgia". Georgia Department of Economic Development. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  24. ^ Antonio, Brent (February 27, 2025). "Apple TV+ Cape Fear Series Begins Filming in Atlanta with Amy Adams and Javier Bardem". Project Casting. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  25. ^ "Cape Fear: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  26. ^ "Cape Fear: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved June 7, 2026.