Netflix has revealed first details for 'Below', a chilling monster thriller that serves as the ideal replacement for the cancelled series 'The Boroughs'. The six-part series, from 'The Umbrella Academy' writer Jesse McKeown, will stream from October 8, 2026.
The Boroughs Cancellation and Below's Arrival
'The Boroughs', an eight-part sci-fi mystery backed by the creators of 'Stranger Things', was cancelled after one season despite a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and weeks in Netflix's top 10 most-watched chart. The streamer pulled the plug, leaving fans without answers to its cliffhanger ending. Now, 'Below' steps in as a ready-made replacement.
Plot and Cast of Below
'Below' follows Calvin Penney, a big-hearted but stubborn fisherman in a small Newfoundland town, haunted by his father's mysterious death decades ago. When an unidentified sea creature terrorises his hometown, Calvin must fight to hold his close-knit community together. He teams up with a visiting marine researcher to confront the creature and uncover the island's buried secrets. The series blends local myth, thrilling suspense, and heartfelt humour, exploring themes of family, community, and change.
The cast is led by Josh Hartnett ('Trap', 'Penny Dreadful') as Calvin, joined by 'Stranger Things' star Charlie Heaton and 'Bridgerton's Ruby Stokes.
Creator and Inspiration
Showrunner Jesse McKeown, known for 'The Umbrella Academy' and 'The Sinner', said he was inspired by genre movies from Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter. He explained: “I always knew I wanted to make something here in Newfoundland. Preferably something big. And something strange. Something that taps into the terrifying ruggedness and isolation of the place. But also something that captures the overwhelming warmth and the eccentric brilliance of the people here.”
Josh Hartnett on the Series
Hartnett told Entertainment Weekly: "It tapped directly into a feeling I’ve been having, that I’m sure is not unique, that the powers that determine our lives are so far removed from us as people that it’s hard to even imagine being able to affect meaningful change for ourselves and the people we love. Our story, the ambiguous and terrifying powers become clear and our band of heroes are able to come together to fight them. In that, there is a very satisfying level of wish fulfilment."
'Below' is described as a mix between 'Stranger Things' and Apple TV+ hit 'Widow's Bay'. All episodes drop on Netflix on October 8, 2026.
