Apple TV Reunites with Alfonso Cuarón on Ascension, Starring Caitriona Balfe

Apple TV has acquired Ascension, a new psychological horror thriller from Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón, starring and executive produced Caitríona Balfe (Outlander, Belfast).

The series is created and led by Natalie Erika James (Apartment 7A, Relic) and Christian White (Apartment 7A, Relic), who serve as showrunners and writers alongside Alfonso Cuarón and Carlos Cuarón. James will also direct the series.

Produced by Apple Studios, Ascension is executive produced by Cuarón as part of his overall deal with Apple through his production company Esperanto Filmoj. Gabriela Rodriguez and Richard Schwartz of Esperanto Filmoj will also executive produce, alongside Cuarón and Carlos Cuarón. Steve Golin, David Levine and Zack Hayden executive produce for Anonymous Content, while James and White also serve as executive producers.

Based on Adam Nevill’s novel Last Days, Ascension follows Rose, a documentary filmmaker and recently divorced mother who specializes in uncovering other people’s secrets while struggling with her own personal conflicts.

When Rose begins documenting a mysterious 20th-century cult known as the Church of the Ascension, she finds an unexpected sense of refuge in its teachings—until she uncovers a much darker reality behind them.

The series explores themes of evil, innocence, sacrifice and the lengths people will go to protect those they love, even when they themselves may become the greatest threat.

Ascension marks another collaboration between Cuarón, Anonymous Content and Apple following the limited series Disclaimer.

For Balfe, the project marks her second collaboration with Apple. She will also star in Tenzing, an Apple Original Films production. Anonymous Content is also behind several Apple original productions, including the upcoming series Neuromancer and 12 12 12.