Josh Hartnett Faces a Mysterious Sea Creature in Netflix’s New Thriller Below
Something dangerous is lurking beneath the waters off Newfoundland, and Josh Hartnett’s Calvin Penney is determined to find out what it is.
Netflix has unveiled the first teaser for Below, a six-episode thriller set in a small Newfoundland community that comes under attack from an unidentified sea creature. Hartnett stars as a stubborn but big-hearted fisherman who finds himself at the center of a fight to protect his family and the town he calls home.
The series will make its world premiere as part of the Primetime program at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 10, 2026, before arriving globally on Netflix on Oct. 8.
Josh Hartnett leads the fight from the water
In Below, Hartnett plays Calvin Penney, a fisherman whose life has been shaped by tragedy. He is still haunted by the mysterious death of his father decades earlier, while also struggling to keep his family together.
When strange events begin unfolding around his hometown, Calvin has a much bigger problem to confront. An unidentified creature emerges as a threat to the community, forcing him to put aside his own fears and take action.
His son Wade, played by Charlie Heaton, becomes especially important to Calvin’s story. Determined to keep Wade and the rest of his family safe, Calvin joins forces with Fonda Howander, a visiting marine researcher portrayed by Mackenzie Davis.
Together, they set out to understand the creature and uncover secrets that have remained buried on the island.
Netflix describes the series as a story about family, community and change, combining suspense with the close-knit spirit of a remote Newfoundland town.
A sea monster thriller rooted in Newfoundland
The setting is central to Below. The series was filmed on location in Newfoundland, Canada, giving its isolated coastal environment a prominent role in the story.
Creator, showrunner and executive producer Jesse McKeown developed the series around his long-standing connection to Newfoundland. He has described the province as both rugged and isolated, while also emphasizing the warmth and eccentricity of its communities.
The production also went beyond simply using Newfoundland as a backdrop. Scenes were filmed on the ocean rather than relying entirely on green-screen work, with the cast spending time on the water to capture the setting more authentically.
That approach gives the teaser a distinctly maritime atmosphere. Fishing boats, the open ocean and the remote community all become part of the tension as Calvin and those around him confront a threat they do not yet understand.
The cast of Below
Hartnett leads an ensemble that includes several familiar faces.
Mackenzie Davis stars as Fonda Howander, the marine researcher who works with Calvin to investigate the creature. Charlie Heaton plays Wade Penney, Calvin’s son.
The supporting cast includes Ruby Stokes as Mary Penney, Rohan Campbell as Jay Penney, Willow Kean as Ruth Penney and Kaleb Horn as Noah. Natasha Henstridge and Mary Walsh are also part of the cast.
Hartnett is also an executive producer on the series. Jessica Rhoades produces through Pacesetter, with Chris Hatcher, Jamie Childs, Louise Sutton and Sharon Hall also serving as executive producers.
Jesse McKeown brings the story to Netflix
Below comes from Jesse McKeown, who serves as creator, showrunner and executive producer. McKeown previously worked as a writer on The Umbrella Academy and 19-2. The series is written by McKeown alongside Karen Walton, Perry Chafe and Natty Zavitz.
Jamie Childs, Helen Shaver and Stephen Dunn directed the six episodes.
The project was originally announced in February 2025, with Hartnett joining the series soon afterward. The actor has previously appeared in television projects including Penny Dreadful, Die Hart and Paradise Lost.
For Hartnett, the role marks another move into darker material. Netflix’s first-look material presents Calvin as a fisherman carrying years of loss while trying to protect a family and community that mean everything to him.
When does Below premiere?
Below will have its world premiere during the Primetime program at TIFF 2026 on Sept. 10.
All six episodes will then arrive on Netflix on Oct. 8, 2026.
With a remote Newfoundland town, a mysterious creature beneath the water and Hartnett’s fisherman at the center of the story, Below sets up a thriller in which the danger may be coming from somewhere the residents can barely see.
Watch *Below* on Netflix
