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MGM+ orders eight-episode 'The Black Tapes' horror series starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

MGM+ has ordered an eight-episode series based on the 2015 horror podcast The Black Tapes, with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as lead. Production is due to start in Vancouver in January 2027.

3 outlets · 1L · 2C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Variety
Image: Deadline
Image: Radio Times

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The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2MGM+ has ordered The Black Tapes, an eight-episode supernatural investigation drama, with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau starring. Mixed · 2The series is based on the podcast created by Terry Miles and Paul Bae, which debuted in 2015 and has over 60 million downloads; Miles and Bae are writers and executive producers on the adaptation. Left · 1Coster-Waldau plays Dr. Richard Strand, a psychiatrist with a mysterious past who teams with the scientist Alex Regan to debunk paranormal cases, before they uncover a hidden occult world and a centuries-old apocalyptic conspiracy.

Mixed · 2MGM+ Studios produces. John Rogers, known for Leverage, is also a writer and showrunner, and executive producers include Miles, Bae, Kearie Peak of Peak Pictures, and Rogers and Jennifer Court of Kung Fu Monkey Productions. Mixed · 2Production is scheduled to begin in Vancouver in January 2027, for release on MGM+ in the U.S., UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Latin America. Mixed · 2Michael Wright, global head of MGM+, said the show "crafts a compelling story around our cultural fascination with the unexplained"; Rogers said he was an early fan of the podcast and that the writers' room will "deepen and expand the mythos".

Centre · 1Deadline adds that NBC developed a drama adaptation in the 2018-19 cycle, written by Bae, Miles and Mathew Arnold, which did not go to pilot. It also says the show joins MGM+'s horror slate of From, heading to a fifth and final season, and The Institute, whose second season premieres Nov. 8. Mixed · 2Both outlets note Coster-Waldau's Game of Thrones role as Jaime Lannister and credits including The Last Thing He Told Me and King & Conqueror; Deadline says he next stars opposite Jennifer Lopez in the Netflix film The Last Mrs. Parrish.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
Variety reports the order as a trade announcement, leading with the Game of Thrones link and including the official logline and executive quotes.
Emphasis
Coster-Waldau's career credits and the logline; a quote from Peak praising the casting.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the earlier NBC adaptation attempt or MGM+'s other horror series.
Charged language
“hit podcast”
For example
“with “Game of Thrones” alum Nikolaj Coster-Waldau attached to star in the lead role.” — Variety

Centre2 outlets

Framing
Deadline treats the order as an expansion of MGM+'s horror lineup, with industry background on the creative team.
Emphasis
MGM+ slate, Wright, Rogers and Paek's shared history, and the failed NBC adaptation.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not include Peak's quote or Coster-Waldau's film credits beyond his upcoming Netflix role.
Charged language
“brilliant psychiatrist”
For example
“MGM+ is expanding its horror lineup with a series order to The Black Tapes” — Deadline

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

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