Sosie Bacon is officially stepping deeper into genre television, and horror fans have every reason to pay attention. The Black Tapes, MGM+’s upcoming supernatural investigation drama, has cast Bacon as its female lead opposite Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, bringing fresh momentum to one of the most intriguing podcast-to-screen adaptations now in development.
Based on the cult-favorite 2015 horror podcast of the same name, The Black Tapes blends paranormal mystery, psychological suspense, and occult conspiracy into a series premise built for binge-watching. With Bacon and Coster-Waldau leading the cast, the show is shaping up to be a notable addition to the premium TV horror landscape.
The Black Tapes adds Sosie Bacon in a key lead role
In The Black Tapes, Coster-Waldau plays Dr. Richard Strand, a brilliant psychiatrist whose past is as mysterious as the cases he investigates. Bacon takes on the role of Alex Regan, a focused and highly analytical physicist who partners with Strand to examine seemingly impossible paranormal events.
Together, the pair set out to debunk reports involving:
- Hauntings
- Possessions
- Disappearances
- Dark folklore and urban legends
- The so-called “black tapes” of unsolved supernatural cases
What begins as an investigation into fringe phenomena gradually evolves into something much larger. As the truth behind these cases unfolds, the two are drawn toward a hidden occult reality and a conspiracy with apocalyptic stakes stretching back centuries.
Why The Black Tapes already stands out in the TV horror space
The appeal of The Black Tapes lies in its genre mix. It is not simply a ghost story, nor is it a procedural in the traditional sense. The series concept combines the skepticism of investigative drama with the dread of supernatural horror, which could make it especially attractive to viewers who enjoy smart, slow-burn mysteries.
Podcast adaptations have become increasingly common, but not all arrive with a built-in atmosphere as distinctive as this one. The source material earned attention for its immersive storytelling and unsettling mythology, and that foundation gives the TV version a strong starting point.
A pairing built for psychological tension
Casting may be one of the project’s biggest strengths. Coster-Waldau brings gravitas and complexity to morally ambiguous roles, while Bacon has steadily emerged as a compelling presence in genre storytelling. Her breakout turn in Smile demonstrated she can anchor emotionally intense horror, making her a natural fit for Alex Regan’s methodical but obsession-prone character.
If the adaptation leans into the contrast between reason and belief, Bacon and Coster-Waldau could create exactly the kind of uneasy dynamic that keeps supernatural thrillers gripping.
Who is making The Black Tapes for MGM+?
The Black Tapes comes from MGM+ Studios and has a creative team closely tied to the original podcast. Terry Miles and Paul Bae, the creators behind the audio drama, are executive producing and writing on the television adaptation. That involvement should reassure fans hoping the series preserves the tone and mythology that made the podcast resonate in the first place.
The producing team also includes:
- Kearie Peak for Peak Pictures
- John Rogers and Jennifer Court for Kung Fu Monkey Productions
Rogers is serving as showrunner, a detail worth noting for viewers interested in how the series will balance serialized mythology with episodic investigations.
Production timeline and release plans
Production on The Black Tapes is scheduled to begin in Vancouver in January 2027. MGM+ is planning to release the series across multiple territories, including:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- Belgium
- The Netherlands
- Latin America
That broad rollout signals real confidence in the project’s international appeal, especially given the global appetite for elevated horror and mystery-driven serialized television.
Sosie Bacon’s rising profile makes this casting notable
Bacon’s addition to The Black Tapes comes at a busy and significant moment in her career. She has continued building momentum after standout screen work in both film and television, and this new role positions her at the center of another high-profile genre property.
She will next appear in the horror-comedy Family Movie, a project that has already sparked interest because it stars Bacon alongside her parents, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon, who also direct the film. The feature premiered at SXSW and is set for release on April 23, 2027.
On the television side, Bacon also recently wrapped production on Season 2 of Prime Video’s Scarpetta, where she reprises her role as Abby Turnbull opposite Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis. Taken together, those credits show a performer increasingly trusted with genre-heavy material and ensemble-driven prestige projects.
What fans of the original podcast should expect
Any adaptation of The Black Tapes will face a familiar challenge: translating the intimacy and ambiguity of audio storytelling into a visual format. The podcast’s appeal came in part from what listeners could not fully see, forcing them to imagine the horror on their own terms.
For the series to succeed, it will likely need to preserve several core elements:
- Atmosphere: A creeping, unsettling tone rather than constant jump scares
- Character tension: The push and pull between skepticism and belief
- Mythology: A layered conspiracy that unfolds gradually
- Restraint: Letting mystery do as much work as spectacle
If MGM+ gets that balance right, The Black Tapes could become more than just another adaptation. It could emerge as one of the platform’s signature genre series.
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Final take on The Black Tapes
With Sosie Bacon stepping in opposite Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, The Black Tapes looks increasingly like a horror series worth tracking closely. The combination of strong casting, podcast pedigree, and a story that mixes paranormal casework with an occult conspiracy gives MGM+ a potentially standout title in the crowded TV and video space.
If the series captures the eerie intelligence of its source material while expanding its world for television, The Black Tapes could become a breakout supernatural drama when it finally arrives.
