SAVANNAH, GEORGIA — The 10-part television series "Cape Fear" will premiere on June 5, 2026, on Apple TV+, with its first two episodes available immediately. Subsequent episodes will be released weekly on Fridays, concluding on July 31, 2026.
Nick Antosca created the series and serves as its showrunner. Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are executive producers for the show, which is an adaptation of John D. MacDonald's 1957 novel "The Executioners." Film adaptations of the story were previously released in 1962 and 1991, with Scorsese directing the 1991 film.
The series is set in Savannah, Georgia, in the year 2026. The plot centers on Max Cady, who seeks revenge against Anna Bowden and Tom Bowden. The Bowdens were the defense attorney and prosecutor, respectively, involved in Cady's criminal case. In the series' narrative, Cady is exonerated after serving 17 years for the murder of his pregnant wife. His exoneration results from a confession and subsequent suicide by his former mistress. Tom Bowden prosecuted the original case, and he and Anna Bowden married during the trial proceedings.
Javier Bardem portrays Max Cady, while Amy Adams plays Anna Bowden and Patrick Wilson plays Tom Bowden. Lily Collias and Joe Anders portray Natalie Bowden and Zach Bowden, and CCH Pounder portrays Noa Toussaint.
Nick Antosca said he wanted to create a version that honored the classic film adaptations while reflecting modern anxieties. "I wanted to do a new version that honored the classics that I love, but also is a nightmare for today," Antosca said. The narrative incorporates modern technology, including artificial intelligence, drones, cloned smartphones, and social media. Amy Adams commented on the contemporary relevance of surveillance, stating, "Max is using surveillance in a much more highly technical and much more invasive way." Adams added, "But that feeling of being watched, I think that's a very timeless terror."
Bardem discussed his character's motivation. He stated, "This is a man who has lost it all and, so far, he has nothing else to lose." Bardem added, "He has all the time in the world to enjoy the revenge. He doesn't seem to care about any external approval of anything or any kind. So he's unleashed."