Caitríona Balfe to Lead Apple TV’s ‘Ascension’
Apple has announced the second series to come out of its deal with Alfonso Cuarón, 'Ascension.'
We were less than impressed by director Alfonso Cuarón’s series Disclaimer, the first series released as part of his overall deal with Apple TV. A meditation on the current misogynistic vibe of the past decade, what was supposed to be a wild thriller felt at times like it was an endurance contest to see who would break first: the show or the viewer. However, the series did very well for Apple, both in viewership and at awards season.
Now, Apple has announced the second series to come out of this deal. Titled Ascension, the new psychological horror thriller was inspired by the best-selling 2013 novel Last Days by Adam Nevill. However, much like Disclaimer, the draw is less about the work being adapted and who Cuarón brought on board to lead the series. In the case of Disclaimer, it was A-list film star Cate Blanchett; for Ascension, Cuarón has cast Caitríona Balfe, who has been looking for a new high-profile project to star in since her decade-plus run as Claire Fraser in Starz’s Outlander franchise has finally concluded.
Most actors in Balfe’s position, when trying to move on from a long-running role that made them famous, tend to select roles that cast them completely against the type audiences expect – think Shaun Evans and Robson Green choosing to play serial killers right out of the box after their respective decades as good-hearted police officers on PBS came to an end. If the series synopsis is anything to go by, Balfe is charting a similar course.
Here’s the series synopsis:
Ascension follows Rose, a relentless documentary filmmaker and recently divorced mother who is brilliant at uncovering others’ truths but struggling to resolve her own. When Rose begins a project on a mysterious 20th-century cult known as the Church of Ascension, she finds unexpected refuge in its teachings — until she discovers something far more insidious beneath. Ascension explores evil and innocence at the highest level, while asking how far we’ll go — and what we’ll sacrifice — to protect the ones we love, even when the greatest threat to them may be ourselves.
Balfe (Belfast) will star as Rose; she is the only cast member attached thus far. Further casting is expected to be announced ahead of filming.
Alfonso Cuarón (Roma) co-wrote the series with his long-time collaborator and brother, Carlos Cuarón, and co-showrunners Natalie Erika James (Apartment 7A) and Christian White (Relic); James also serves as lead director. All four executive produce alongside Balfe, Gabriela Rodriguez & Richard Schwartz for Esperanto Filmoj, and Steve Golin, David Levine & Zack Hayden for Anonymous Content.
Ascension does not yet have a start of production date, but we expect it to start filming towards the end of 2026 with a mid-to- late 2027 release.
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