“Not for the faint-hearted”: Inside Adolescence star Stephen Graham's “frightening” new crime drama Lazarus

It’s been three months since Netflix’s Adolescence reminded us why Stephen Graham is now a bona fide national treasure and, while we might not be getting a second series, the actor is returning to our screens in a different sort of drama. The Adolescence star is taking on a rather frightening new role in Apple TV+ crime drama Lazarus – and it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Based on the bestselling Lars Kepler novels, Lazarus will see Graham step into the shoes of serial killer Jurek Walter, who brings terror to a small town in Western Pennsylvania - and it might just be his darkest role yet. With ex-soldier turned homicide detective Jonah Lynn (Liev Schreiber), on his tail, the question is: will his chilling crimes ever catch up with him?

Ahead of the show's arrival on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about Lazarus, including the cast, plot and how to watch it.

What is Lazarus about?

Based on the bestselling Lars Kepler novels, the upcoming drama centres around Jonah Lynn (played by Liev Schreiber), a former soldier turned homicide detective who, having tired of working the dangerous streets of Philadelphia, relocates to a small town in Western Pennsylvania in search of a quieter life. His newfound “peace”, however, doesn’t last long.

As the town and his family come under attack from the diabolically cunning serial killer Jurek Walter (Stephen Graham), Jonah must protect everything he holds dear. According to Deadline, the official synopsis continues: “When the desperate search for Jurek’s last missing victim forces Jonah to send his adopted daughter, FBI Agent Saga Bauer (Zazie Beetz), up against Jurek, how far will Jonah go?”

If you’re not familiar with Lars Kepler, it’s a pseudonym for writing partners and husband and wife team Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril - authors of the Joona Linna series. They’ve published nine instalments to date, and the series has sold 15 million copies in 40 languages.

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Is Lazarus based on a true story?

No, thankfully, Jurek Walter isn’t a real person and the series isn’t based on a true story. Lars Kepler’s novels are, however, slightly terrifyingly believable.

Who's starring in Lazarus?

The cast of Lazarus includes:

• Stephen Graham (Adolescence, A Thousand Blows) as Jurek Walter
• Liev Schreiber (The Perfect Couple, Ray Donovan) as Jonah Lynn
• Zazie Beetz (Joker, Deadpool 2) as FBI Agent Saga Bauer

We also know that Tom Hardy was originally being lined up to play the role of Jurek Walter but, for unknown reasons, he’s no longer set to appear in the drama. We’re expecting more cast details to be announced soon, so watch this space for more news.

How can I watch Lazarus?

Apple TV+ hasn't yet shared a release date for Lazarus, but we do know that filming is set to begin in Pittsburgh this summer. That being said, we'd expect it to arrive on our screens at some point in 2026.

What else can I watch Stephen Graham in?

Chances are, you're already familiar with Stephen Graham's hit Netflix series, Adolescence, which was released earlier this year. But, if you haven't yet seen, we'd highly recommend tuning in. The series centres around 13-year-old schoolboy Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) who's arrested after the murder of a girl in his school, and is a harrowing yet truly thought-provoking watch. You'll find more incredible Stephen Graham dramas - that you can watch right now - here.