Josh Hartnett Faces a Sea Creature in Netflix’s New Thriller Below, Premiering October 8
Something is moving beneath the waters off Newfoundland, and Netflix is keeping its identity hidden.
In Below, Josh Hartnett plays Calvin Penney, a fisherman whose small coastal community is suddenly threatened by a mysterious sea creature. As strange and violent events begin to unfold, Calvin is pushed into a fight to protect his family, his neighbors, and a way of life that is already disappearing.
The series arrives on Netflix October 8, 2026, with six episodes making up the limited series.
A threat lurking beneath Newfoundland’s waters
The newly released trailer gives viewers plenty of reasons to be uneasy without showing exactly what Calvin and the townspeople are up against.
Rather than revealing the creature, the footage builds tension around its presence. Something is clearly moving through the water, while the people onshore are left trying to understand a series of increasingly disturbing events.
That mystery becomes even more personal for Calvin when his son, Wade, played by Charlie Heaton, begins experiencing frightening symptoms. Calvin eventually teams up with Fonda Howander, a marine biologist played by Mackenzie Davis, as they investigate the creature and the secrets surrounding the waters near their community.
The isolated Newfoundland setting adds another layer to the story. The rugged coastline and remote community put the characters in an environment where the ocean is central to everyday life, making the appearance of something dangerous beneath the surface especially threatening.
Netflix describes the series as a story about a fisherman fighting to protect his family, his community, and their vanishing way of life.
Josh Hartnett leads a six-episode cast
Hartnett takes the central role of Calvin, with Below surrounding him with an ensemble that includes Charlie Heaton, Mackenzie Davis, Rohan Campbell, Ruby Stokes, Kaleb Horn, and Willow Kean. Netflix also lists Natasha Henstridge and Mary Walsh among the cast.
Heaton plays Calvin’s son Wade, while Davis portrays marine researcher Fonda Howander. Rohan Campbell, Ruby Stokes, Kaleb Horn, and Willow Kean also appear in the series.
The series was created by Jesse McKeown, whose previous credits include The Umbrella Academy and 19-2.
McKeown has said the series was influenced by the work of Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter, particularly the older, handcrafted genre films associated with both filmmakers. Newfoundland itself was another major source of inspiration, with its isolated landscape and local legends helping shape the story.
The combination gives Below a distinctly old-school creature-thriller setup: an isolated community, an unexplained threat from the sea, and ordinary people forced to confront something they barely understand.
The trailer keeps the monster hidden
For a series built around a mysterious creature, Below is surprisingly careful about what it reveals.
The official trailer shows the growing danger but does not give viewers a clear look at the creature itself. Netflix instead focuses on the characters’ reactions, the unsettling incidents around the community, and the sense that something enormous is moving beneath the water.
That approach leaves the central mystery intact: what exactly is beneath the surface, and why has it begun targeting the town?
The series will have six episodes to answer those questions while following Calvin and the people around him as they attempt to survive the threat.
Below release date
Below premieres exclusively on Netflix on October 8, 2026. The six-episode limited series stars Josh Hartnett, Mackenzie Davis, Charlie Heaton, Rohan Campbell, Ruby Stokes, Kaleb Horn, and Willow Kean, with Jesse McKeown serving as creator.
Watch the official trailer
Netflix has also released an official teaser for the series.
With its Newfoundland setting, hidden sea creature, and emphasis on atmosphere over revealing the monster too early, Below is shaping up as a tense new addition to Netflix’s 2026 thriller lineup.
