Nearly a decade after it first surfaced, Alfonso Cuarón’s long-gestating “Ascension” is finally moving forward. Apple TV has ordered the psychological horror thriller, with Caitríona Balfe set to star and executive produce.
The project actually dates back to 2017, when Cuarón first began developing the series with Casey Affleck attached to star. That iteration never came together, but Cuarón has continued developing the material, which is inspired by author Adam Nevill’s horror novel “Last Days.”
The new version centers on Rose (Balfe), a recently divorced mother and relentless documentary filmmaker who makes a career out of uncovering other people’s secrets while having considerably more trouble confronting her own. Her latest project sends her digging into the history of the Church of Ascension, a mysterious 20th-century cult. Rose initially finds herself unexpectedly drawn to the group’s teachings, only to discover something much darker hiding beneath them.
Natalie Erika James, the filmmaker behind “Relic” and “Apartment 7A,” and Christian White will serve as co-showrunners. James will also serve as the series’ lead director. She and White are writing alongside Cuarón and his brother Carlos Cuarón, with all four executive producing. Notably, despite Cuarón’s prominent involvement in the project, he has not been announced as a director on the series at this stage.
“Ascension” continues Cuarón’s relationship with Apple following “Disclaimer,” his 2024 limited series starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Lesley Manville. Cuarón executive produces “Ascension” through his Esperanto Filmoj banner, which has an overall television deal with Apple. Anonymous Content will produce alongside Apple Studios.
For Balfe, “Ascension” will mark her first major television role following the conclusion of “Outlander,” the Starz time-travel drama she led opposite Sam Heughan for eight seasons. She already has another Apple project on the horizon, starring in the upcoming feature “Tenzing.”
There’s no word yet on when “Ascension” will begin production or premiere on Apple TV, but after nearly nine years of development, the project has finally found its home—and a substantially different incarnation than the one Cuarón first began shopping around in 2017.
