Netflix’s next project Newfoundland, created by Jesse McKeown (The Umbrella Academy, The Big Charade), has just cast Josh Hartnett (6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain, August) as their lead, according to Deadline. Hartnett has also been chosen as the six episode series’ executive producer, as the show plans to film entirely in Newfoundland, formerly named Newfoundland and Labrador, which is located in the easternmost region of Canada. Alongside Hartnett, executive producer Jessica Rhoades (The Aviary, Cloud 9) will also be joining behind the scenes.
According to Deadline’s article, the series’ plot showcases mysterious occurrences off Newfoundland’s coast, when a sea monster is spotted by a fisherman (Hartnett), and he realizes he must fight to protect his family and his community from the looming threat.
McKeown will be enacted as showrunner for the limited series, while simultaneously executively producing with Rhoades and Hartnett. As Rhoades partner at her company Pacesetter UK, he will be joining a team of executive producers which will include Newfoundland native Chris Hatcher (Priscilla, Painkiller), Jamie Childs (The Sandman, Willow), Louise Sutton (Black Mirror, Jekyll and Hyde), and Sharon Hall (The Expanse, Utopia). The writing team for the upcoming Netflix special will include Karen Walton (Toughlove, Change of Plans), Perry Chafe (Saint-Pierre, Republic of Doyle), Natty Zavitz (Degrassi: The Next Generation, Mookie’s Law), Helen Shaver (Happy Place, D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear), and Jamie Childs, with Stephen Dunn (Good Morning, Stress Position) as director.
According to Deadline, Rhoades and Hartnett had previously worked together in an episode of Black Mirror entitled “Beyond the Sea”, in which Hartnett starred. His previous role took place in the critically acclaimed film Oppenheimer, which received a shared SAG award for its impressive motion picture ensemble. He has also headlined Fight or Flight, and is currently working alongside Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries, The Witches) in their next film entitled Verity, which will premiere in theaters in 2026. Hartnett also previously made an appearance in the popular FX show The Bear, starring Jeremy Allen White (The Speed of Life, Homecoming).
