Apple TV sets Oct. 30 premiere for Stephen Graham limited series “Nocturne,” previously titled “Lazarus”

The 10-episode drama, starring Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz and Stephen Graham, is adapted from the Lars Kepler novel “Lazarus” and will roll out in two-episode and weekly installments through Christmas.

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Apple TV has announced a premiere date and new title for its upcoming limited series starring Stephen Graham, Liev Schreiber and Zazie Beetz. The streamer’s 10-episode series, retitled “Nocturne,” will debut globally on Oct. 30, 2026, following a prior working title of “Lazarus.” Apple will release the first two episodes on launch day, with the remaining eight episodes arriving each Friday through Christmas.

The announcement comes as the series continues a process of branding and packaging ahead of its fall release. The Hollywood Reporter reported that the show’s original novel source is “Lazarus,” the 2018 title by Lars Kepler, which is the pen name for husband-and-wife authors Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril. The authors are credited as executive producers under the alias.

“Nocturne” is described as a thriller in which Jonah Lynn, played by Schreiber, a former soldier and current homicide detective, leaves Philadelphia for a quieter life in Western Pennsylvania with his family. The series’ conflict escalates when the small town and Lynn’s loved ones come under attack from Jurek Walter, portrayed by Graham as a serial killer whose actions drive the investigation.

The series is written by Rowan Joffe and John Hlavin, with Hlavin also serving as showrunner and executive producer. The creative team includes directors tied to high-profile television work, including Tim Van Patten, who is set to direct the first two episodes, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Alongside the retitling and release schedule, Apple’s marketing materials also position “Nocturne” within the broader Lars Kepler adaptation pipeline. Deadline reported that the series is based on the novels “Lazarus” and “The Sandman,” expanding the scope of the source material beyond the earlier single-novel framing.

Deadline also reported that the series’ cast includes Schreiber and Beetz with Graham leading the new Apple TV drama. The Hollywood Reporter further stated that the four of them are among the executive producers, underscoring that casting and producing are intertwined in the project’s credit structure.

Apple has not described changes to episode length or content rating in the announcements, but the planned weekly rollout through the holiday period sets a structured viewing timeline for subscription subscribers. For Apple TV, the scheduled launch also functions as an explicit counter-programming move for October and late-year audiences, placing a major original limited series in the seasonal media cycle.

Why It Matters

The scheduled Oct. 30 release date and weekly Friday cadence through Christmas provide a predictable viewing window for subscription audiences and families planning holiday viewing.
The project continues Apple TV’s investment in high-budget thriller content with a star-led ensemble and a fixed limited-series arc.
The retitling from “Lazarus” to “Nocturne” indicates a final branding decision ahead of launch, which can affect marketing, press coverage, and consumer search behavior.
Because the show is adapted from a well-known European crime franchise under the Lars Kepler pen name, its production credits and source-material mix could shape expectations for faithful or expanded storytelling.
The series’ homicide-investigation premise and suspense format place it in a category where rating and content boundaries matter for mainstream family audiences watching across the holiday period.

Sources

Key Facts

Apple TV’s Stephen Graham limited series has been retitled “Nocturne,” after previously being called “Lazarus.”
The show is a 10-episode limited series starring Liev Schreiber and Zazie Beetz with Stephen Graham.
“Nocturne” will premiere globally on Oct. 30, 2026, with two episodes released that day and the remaining eight airing weekly on Fridays through Christmas.
The series is adapted from Lars Kepler’s novel “Lazarus,” with Deadline also reporting it draws from “The Sandman.”
Tim Van Patten will direct the first two episodes.
John Hlavin is credited as showrunner, writer and executive producer, with Rowan Joffe also credited as writer.