Netflix is preparing to launch a six-episode limited series titled Below on October 8, 2026, starring Josh Hartnett. Simultaneously, Black Salt Games and Story Kitchen are developing a cinematic version of the indie title Dredge.
Josh Hartnett and the Newfoundland Setting of Netflix's 'Below'
Netflix's upcoming series Below features Josh Hartnett in the role of a fisherman named Calvin. Set within a secluded Newfoundland town, the story follows Calvin's struggle to protect his family and community from an unseen, eldritch monster rising from the ocean depths. as the report states, the series aims to build tension through psychological terror and the juxtaposition of mundane maritime life against the unknown.
The production is designed to peel back layers of the creature's history throughout its six episodes. By utilizing the quiet,foreboding atmosphere of a remote port town, the show seeks to replicate the classic tension found in traditional cosmic hororr tales.
Wētā Workshop's Creature Design for the 'Dredge' Film
The live-action film adaptation of the indie video game Dredge is currently being developed through a partnership between Black Salt Games and Story Kitchen. according to the source, the production has already engaged the celebrated VFX studio Wētā Workshop—famed for its work on The Lord of the Rings and Avatar—to lead early concept work.
This visual groundwork focuses on a terrifying prehistoric oceanic being that erodes the sanity of those who venture too far beneath the waves.. Much like the protagonist in the original game, the film's characters will face horrors that exist far beyond human comprehension, expanding the stakes of the original indie narrative.
The Post-Industrial Maritime Settings of 'Below' and 'Dredge'
Both Below and Dredge rely on a specific aesthetic of isolated,post-industrial maritime environments to drive their narratives.. The source notes that both projects utilize a protagonist's history of trauma to fuel a slow, paranoid descent into madness . this thematic overlap suggests a growing interest in stories where the sea itself acts as a vessel for the uncanny.
By keeping their primary antagonists largely unseen, both productions emphasize the dread of the unknown. The terror in these stories arises not from direct confrontation, but from the unsettling realization that something massive and uncivilizable is lurking just beneath the surface.
The Missing Details of the 'Dredge' Production
While the concept work for the Dredge film is progressing, several critical details remain unverified. The film's script has not yet been finalized, leaving the specific narrative direction and character arcs in question. Furthermore, the report does not specify a director or a projected release date for the Dredge film, unlike the confirmed October 2026 premiere for Netflix's Below.
The Growing Pipeline of Flanagan and Wan's Cosmic Horror
This surge in oceanic horror is part of a larger movement within the genre involving high-profile creators. Upcoming projects include Mike Flanagan’s retelling of Stephen King’s The Mist and James Wan’s planned adaptation of The Call of Cthulhu. These releases suggest a significant industry-wide interest in stories where humanity confronts the uncivilizable forces of the deep.
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