MGM+ seems to be expanding the horror genre in its extensive content library, having greenlit an adaptation of the popular podcast The Black Tapes into a series. According to Deadline, the plot follows Dr. Richard Strand, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones, Gods of Egypt), a man with a mysterious past. He teams up with journalist Alex Regan to solve and debunk supernatural cases involving hauntings, possessions, disappearances, and sinister legends. The series was created by the combined partnership of Terry Miles (Calamity Janes, Dawn Rider) and Paul Bae (Marvels, Fringe), who will serve as the series writers.
Reported by Deadline, since the launch of the podcast 11 years ago, The Black Tapes has accumulated an impressive 60 million downloads. Head of MGM+ Michael Wright stated, “The Black Tapes crafts a compelling story around our cultural fascination with the unexplained, while delivering the cinematic, classic storytelling that MGM+ audiences expect.”
He further added regarding the future of the show: “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.”
According to Deadline, this project has reunited Wright, Rogers, and Peak, who were all focusing on their own paths. Rogers went on to share his thoughts: “I was an early and passionate fan of The Black Tapes podcast.” He further notes, “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.”