Podcast series from 11 years ago inspires horror show based on it; Game of Thrones star officially cast
Coster-Waldau Joins MGM+ Drama
Deadline reports that Coster-Waldau has been cast in The Black Tapes, an upcoming MGM+ adaptation of the horror podcast by Terry Miles and Paul Bae. He will portray Dr. Richard Strand, a psychiatrist who works with scientist Alex Regan.
The pair set out to challenge explanations for cases involving possessions, hauntings and disappearances. As secrets emerge, they uncover an apocalyptic conspiracy said to reach back centuries and connect to a mysterious supernatural world.
Podcast Finds A Television Audience
The Black Tapes podcast has recorded more than 60 million downloads since its first episode was released in 2015. Miles, Lori Henry and Christian Sloan are among its voice cast.
Miles and Bae will write the series with John Rogers, who is also its showrunner. They will executive produce with Rogers, Kearie Peak and Jennifer Court.
Creative Team Discusses Adaptation
MGM+ executive Michael Wright praised Coster-Waldau’s screen presence and said the team aims to make the series provocative and entertaining. He also described the project as a story about public interest in the unexplained, told through cinematic, classic storytelling.
Rogers said he was an early fan of the podcast and valued its combination of unsettling horror and conspiracy mystery. He said the adaptation would reach new genre fans while expanding the story for longtime viewers.
Filming Set For Vancouver
Production on the eight-episode series is due to start in Vancouver, Canada, in January 2027. Coster-Waldau is the only announced cast member, and the show has no premiere date yet.
Since Game of Thrones ended in 2019, Coster-Waldau has appeared in projects including The Silencing, Against the Ice, The Last Thing He Told Me and King & Conqueror. MGM+ has also released horror titles such as From, The Institute and Chapelwaite.
Key points
- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau will play psychiatrist Dr. Richard Strand in The Black Tapes.
- The MGM+ series adapts a podcast created by Terry Miles and Paul Bae.
- The eight-episode production is scheduled to film in Vancouver starting January 2027.
- No additional cast members or premiere date have been announced.