Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Stars in MGM+ Series The Black Tapes

MGM+ has officially commissioned an eight-episode supernatural television series based on the hit 2015 horror podcast The Black Tapes, starring Emmy-nominated actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Announced on 26 October 2026, the adaptation will see Coster-Waldau portray Dr Richard Strand alongside showrunner John Rogers, with filming scheduled to commence in Vancouver in January 2027. For Malaysian audiences tracking international horror developments, official broadcast and streaming arrangements remain unconfirmed, as MGM+ has not announced a distribution partner or direct service launch for the local market.

Key Facts

What Is The Black Tapes Adaptation About?

The series follows Dr Richard Strand, a brilliant psychiatrist harbouring a mysterious past, who joins forces with relentless scientist Alex Regan to debunk purported paranormal events including possessions, hauntings, and sinister local legends known as the black tapes. Their scientific inquiries inadvertently uncover an occult underbelly and a centuries-old apocalyptic conspiracy.

Based on the serialized docudrama podcast created by Terry Miles and Paul Bae, the audio production has amassed more than 60 million downloads over the past 11 years. A previous network television adaptation attempted by NBC during the 2018–2019 development cycle did not proceed to pilot. MGM+ Studios is adapting the popular audio drama into an eight-part investigative horror narrative featuring original creators Terry Miles and Paul Bae in the writers' room.

Who Is Behind the Production of The Black Tapes?

The production reunites showrunner John Rogers and executive producer Kearie Peak with MGM+ global head Michael Wright, who previously collaborated on television projects including Leverage and The Librarians during Wright's leadership at TNT. Kung Fu Monkey Productions and Peak Pictures are producing the project alongside MGM+ Studios.

Rogers serves as executive producer alongside Jennifer Court, Kearie Peak, and original podcast creators Terry Miles and Paul Bae. The drama joins an expanding genre slate at MGM+, which includes the Stephen King adaptation The Institute and the horror series From. Showrunner John Rogers leads an executive team that reunites key creative figures behind long-running genre television properties.

What It Means for Viewers in Malaysia

Malaysian availability for The Black Tapes has not been confirmed, as MGM+ does not operate a standalone direct-to-consumer platform in Malaysia. The studio confirmed distribution only across the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Latin America.

Local streaming distribution across providers such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, HBO Max, Viu, iQIYI, or Astro has not been announced by the studio or local platforms. Furthermore, because the project is an episodic series destined for streaming rather than a theatrical feature, no local cinema release or Film Censorship Board of Malaysia (LPF) classification has been registered. Official broadcast distribution and streaming platform availability for The Black Tapes in Malaysia remain unconfirmed.

Common Questions

When does production begin on The Black Tapes?

Principal photography is scheduled to commence in Vancouver, Canada, in January 2027. MGM+ has not yet announced a formal broadcast premiere date following the shoot.

Who plays Dr Richard Strand in the series?

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau portrays Dr Richard Strand. The Danish actor is best known for his role as Jaime Lannister in HBO's Game of Thrones.

Will The Black Tapes stream on Netflix or Prime Video in Malaysia?

Neither MGM+ nor regional distributors have announced Malaysian licensing deals for the series on Netflix, Prime Video, or any other regional service.

Sources and Methodology

Information sourced from a trade report by Nellie Andreeva published in Deadline on 26 October 2026. Data verification and reporting compiled on 26 October 2026. No budget, box office, or local rating figures were disclosed in the source material, and unconfirmed distribution parameters for the Malaysian territory have been omitted.