Tom Hardy’s connection to Apple TV’s Nocturne goes back further than many viewers might realise. Before the crime drama reached the screen under its current title, it was being developed as Lazarus, with Hardy attached to play one of its most important characters. However, the project underwent significant changes before production, eventually arriving with a different leading actor and a reworked character dynamic.
Now, showrunner John Hlavin has offered a closer look at the making of the finished series, particularly Liev Schreiber’s approach to playing Jonah Lynn. One early filming experience in Pennsylvania revealed just how seriously Schreiber takes authenticity, offering an interesting insight into how the production shaped its central character.
Tom Hardy’s Original Role in Apple TV’s Nocturne Was Very Different
The story of Nocturne began with an Apple TV adaptation announced under the title Lazarus.
In February 2023, Lars Kepler announced that Apple was developing a television adaptation of the author’s Joona Linna crime novels. At the time, Tom Hardy and Zazie Beetz were attached to star, with Hardy set to portray serial killer Jurek Walter and Beetz expected to play Inspector Saga Bauer.
Hardy’s involvement extended beyond acting. He was also expected to executive produce the project through his production company, Hardy Son & Baker.
Øystein Karlsen was attached to write, direct and executive produce the series, which was still in the early stages of development.
The original premise centred on a young man discovered wandering along a train track after disappearing 13 years earlier with his sister. Both children had been presumed victims of notorious serial killer Jurek Walter.
The mystery surrounding the missing sister was supposed to bring Inspector Saga Bauer into the centre of the investigation. Her assignment involved going undercover inside the maximum-security psychiatric hospital where Walter had been held since his arrest.
It was a very different starting point from the series viewers are watching today. Hardy was expected to play Walter, while Beetz’s character was identified as Inspector Saga Bauer.
However, that version of Lazarus never reached production with Hardy in the planned role.
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How Lazarus Eventually Became Nocturne
The adaptation continued developing, but its casting and overall structure changed considerably.
By May 2025, Apple had announced a 10-episode crime drama starring Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz and Stephen Graham. The project was now moving forward under a different title: Nocturne.
The most significant change was the introduction of Schreiber as Jonah Lynn, an ex-soldier who becomes a homicide detective. Meanwhile, Graham took on the role of Jurek Walter, the character originally intended for Hardy.
Beetz remained attached, but her character was now identified as FBI Agent Saga Bauer.
This distinction is important when discussing Hardy’s involvement. He was attached to an earlier development of the Apple adaptation, rather than leaving an already-produced version of Nocturne.
The finished series also shifted its narrative focus. Instead of positioning Walter and Saga as the principal figures, the television adaptation places Jonah at the centre of the story.
The result is a different character dynamic, with Jonah’s personal circumstances becoming closely connected to the investigation.
Liev Schreiber’s Nocturne Performance Impressed Showrunner John Hlavin
While the casting changes explain how the series reached its current form, John Hlavin’s recent comments reveal what happened once Schreiber became part of the production.
The showrunner described the actor as “a frighteningly intelligent guy”, explaining that Schreiber keeps an impressive number of details in mind while working.
However, one particular quality stood out above everything else: his commitment to authenticity.
Hlavin explained that Schreiber’s “number one goal is to be authentic.”
That commitment became clear during one of the earliest filming experiences for the pilot.
The production was shooting in Pennsylvania in July, with temperatures reaching approximately 90 degrees and humidity making the conditions particularly uncomfortable.
The scene required Jonah to walk through the woods while looking at a map. Schreiber was dressed in a lined Carhartt jacket, carrying a backpack and a gun as part of his character’s costume.
Given the uncomfortable weather, Hlavin considered whether the production should remove the jacket lining to make filming easier for the actor.
Schreiber refused.
His reasoning was straightforward: Jonah was supposed to experience the heat, so the physical discomfort should remain part of the scene.
Hlavin recalled:
“That early conversation informed a lot of what any adjustments we made were like. Liev is not interested in anything that is not real.”
For the showrunner, this early interaction established an important understanding of Schreiber’s approach to the character.
Rather than prioritising comfort or convenience, the actor wanted the circumstances surrounding Jonah to feel believable.
Why Schreiber Refused to Make Jonah’s Scenes Less Physically Demanding
The Carhartt jacket incident was more than an amusing behind-the-scenes detail. It offered Hlavin an early indication of how Schreiber wanted to approach the role throughout the series.
According to the showrunner, the actor’s commitment to realism was particularly compatible with Jonah’s personality.
Much of the character’s behaviour comes from responding to situations in a believable way, rather than performing actions simply because they are expected in a television thriller.
Hlavin explained:
“Almost everything you see him do in the show is from the place of authenticity. He won’t do something that’s not real.”
That understanding eventually influenced how the production approached Jonah.
Once Hlavin recognised Schreiber’s willingness to embrace the physical demands of the character, he became interested in pushing that quality further.
The showrunner added:
“Now that we have someone who’s willing to do all this, let’s turn the gas up and see what happens.”
These comments do not establish that Schreiber rewrote the series or fundamentally changed its storyline. Instead, they explain how his performance style influenced the production’s treatment of Jonah, particularly when portraying the character’s physical and emotional experiences.
Liev Schreiber Prepared for Nocturne by Meeting Real Homicide Detectives
Schreiber’s preparation also extended beyond filming conditions and physical performance.
In a November 5 interview, the actor discussed meeting Pittsburgh homicide detectives while preparing to portray Jonah.
He described having candid conversations with detectives over drinks and learning about the emotional burden associated with repeatedly witnessing death and human suffering.
The actor also spoke with veterans while preparing for the role, given Jonah’s background as an ex-soldier and former homicide detective.
These conversations helped Schreiber understand the emotional experiences that could shape someone who regularly works around violence.
He also explored the connections that can develop between people who have experienced similar professional pressures.
Schreiber acknowledged that he could not fully understand experiences that were not his own. Nevertheless, the conversations helped him develop a stronger connection to Jonah.
His preparation aligns closely with Hlavin’s description of the actor’s insistence on authenticity, suggesting that the commitment extended well beyond what viewers see on screen.
What Is Nocturne About? Jonah Lynn’s Investigation Explained
In the finished series, Schreiber plays Jonah Lynn, an ex-soldier turned homicide detective who has grown tired of working the difficult streets of Philadelphia.
Hoping to find a quieter life, Jonah relocates to a small town in western Pennsylvania. However, his attempt to leave his previous career behind does not last long.
His new community and family become connected to an investigation involving Jurek Walter, bringing the pressures of his former life back into focus.
The story begins when a boy who disappeared three years earlier returns, reigniting the search for his missing sister.
The discovery raises questions about whether the children were connected to Walter, an imprisoned serial killer whose crimes continue to haunt the investigation.
Although Walter is being held in a highly restricted psychiatric facility, his possible influence over events outside the institution becomes one of the central mysteries.
Saga Bauer eventually becomes crucial to the investigation.
Now Jonah’s protégé and surrogate daughter, Saga is sent undercover in an attempt to obtain information directly from Walter. Her assignment places her in an increasingly dangerous psychological confrontation with the imprisoned killer.
Meanwhile, Jonah must determine what happened to the missing victim.
Apple frames the central conflict around one question: How far will Jonah go to protect the people he loves?
Stephen Graham Plays the Jurek Walter Role Originally Intended for Tom Hardy
The finished casting brings together three central performers whose roles differ from the original Lazarus announcement.
| Actor | Character | Role in Nocturne |
| Liev Schreiber | Jonah Lynn | Ex-soldier and homicide detective |
| Zazie Beetz | Saga Bauer | FBI Agent |
| Stephen Graham | Jurek Walter | Imprisoned serial killer |
| Bill Camp | Dave Ellison | Supporting character |
| Rory Culkin | Karl Anders | Supporting character |
| Chrissy Metz | Ida Frost | Supporting character |
| Gary Carr | Nathan Pollock | Supporting character |
| Landon Valentin | Michael Frost | Supporting character |
The supporting cast also includes these performers as part of the series’ wider ensemble.
Behind the camera, Rowan Joffé and John Hlavin lead the television adaptation. Joffé created the series for television, while Hlavin developed it for television and serves as showrunner.
Tim Van Patten directed the first two episodes and is also an executive producer.
Schreiber and Beetz serve as executive producers, with Beetz producing through her Sleepy Poppy production company.
Lars Kepler, the pseudonym of Swedish writers Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril, is also among the executive producers. Other executive producers include Øystein Karlsen, David Rysdahl, Dorothy Fortenberry and Niclas Salomonsson.
The series is produced for Apple TV by A+E Studios in association with Range Studios.
Nocturne Combines Two Lars Kepler Novels
Although the television adaptation has developed its own structure, its story draws from two books in Lars Kepler’s Joona Linna crime series: Lazarus and The Sandman.
This means the show is not simply a straightforward adaptation of one novel.
The original literary universe has a substantial international following. According to Apple, the Joona Linna series has 10 published crime novels, approximately 20 million copies sold globally and translations into 40 languages, distributed across more than 170 territories.
Jurek Walter is also an established character within this fictional universe, rather than someone created exclusively for the television adaptation.
Moving the story from its Scandinavian crime-fiction roots to western Pennsylvania gives the television series a different setting while retaining the isolated atmosphere associated with the source material.
Jonah’s relocation is particularly important because his attempt to escape his former life becomes increasingly difficult as the investigation develops.
Nocturne Episode Release Schedule: When Is Episode 3 Coming Out?
Nocturne premiered globally on October 30, 2026, with its first two episodes released together.
The season contains 10 episodes, with Apple following a weekly Friday release schedule after the premiere.
| Release detail | Date or information |
| Global premiere | October 30, 2026 |
| First episodes | Episodes 1 and 2 |
| Total episodes | 10 |
| Episode 3 | November 6, 2026 |
| Episode 3 title | “Eyes on the Inside” |
| Release schedule | New episodes every Friday |
| Season finale | December 25, 2026 |
As of November 5, 2026, the first two episodes are available.
The upcoming third episode, titled “Eyes on the Inside,” will follow Saga as she attempts to find a way forward after communication goes dark. Meanwhile, Jonah investigates a cryptic symbol.
The first two episodes establish the central investigation and begin moving Saga towards her undercover assignment.
Conclusion: Nocturne Is a Very Different Project From the Original Tom Hardy Adaptation
Tom Hardy’s connection to Nocturne remains an interesting part of the series’ development history, particularly because he was originally attached to play Jurek Walter and executive produce the earlier Lazarus project.
However, the finished Apple TV drama took a different direction before reaching production. Liev Schreiber became its central character as Jonah Lynn, Stephen Graham took over the Walter role, and Zazie Beetz remained part of the adaptation as Saga Bauer.
John Hlavin’s comments offer a glimpse into what Schreiber brought to this final version. From refusing to remove his lined jacket in Pennsylvania’s summer heat to speaking with real homicide detectives and veterans, the actor’s preparation reflected a consistent commitment to authenticity.
Ultimately, Nocturne represents a substantially evolved version of the project originally announced as Lazarus. Its development history explains Hardy’s early involvement, while Schreiber’s approach helps illustrate how the finished series found its identity.
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Source and Research Disclaimer
This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the sources provided below, including Apple TV’s official announcements and series information, Lars Kepler’s original casting announcement, and the supplied interviews and entertainment reports. All casting, production, character, episode and release details reflect the information available in those sources at the time of writing. The article does not imply independent verification beyond the supplied material.
Sources
- Apple TV Press – Official Nocturne Series Page
- Apple TV Press – Nocturne Cast, Premise and Release Announcement
- Apple TV – Nocturne Episodes and Release Information
- Lars Kepler – Original Lazarus Announcement Featuring Tom Hardy and Zazie Beetz
- Apple TV Press – May 2025 Nocturne Series Announcement
- Apple TV Press – Nocturne World Premiere
- Associated Press – Nocturne Series Overview and Cast Interviews
- The Washington Post – Nocturne Cast and Production Interview
- Decider – Liev Schreiber’s Nocturne Preparation Interview
Featured Image Credit: Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
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