Josh Hartnett’s 6-Part Supernatural Netflix Series Is Mandatory Viewing for Fall 2026

Fall is almost here, which means pumpkin spice treats, changing leaves, Halloween decorations, and, naturally, a new batch of movies and TV shows designed for dark evenings. Netflix has one particularly tempting addition to the seasonal watchlist: Below, a six-part supernatural thriller starring Josh Hartnett.

The series arrives at an especially interesting point in Hartnett’s career. The actor has spent decades moving between horror, thrillers, dramas, and more unexpected roles, and Below gives him another opportunity to lead a story built around mystery, danger, and the supernatural.

All six episodes will arrive on Netflix on October 8, 2026, making the series an easy candidate for a fall binge.

Josh Hartnett Returns to Horror With Below

Hartnett has plenty of experience with horror and genre movies. Back in 1998, he appeared in two films that remain particularly memorable: Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, in which he played John Tate, the son of Laurie Strode, portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis, and The Faculty, the sci-fi horror movie where he played the smart and confident Zeke Tyler.

Nearly three decades later, Hartnett is returning to that territory with Below, this time as the show’s central character.

Hartnett plays Calvin Penney, a fisherman living in Newfoundland. The series follows the residents of a small town as they find themselves forced to fight back against mysterious sea creatures.

That premise alone makes Below an appealing choice for the fall season. The Newfoundland setting, Hartnett’s Newfoundland accent, and the threat lurking beneath the water give the series an atmosphere that should fit naturally alongside Halloween viewing.

The teaser suggests that Calvin will become one of the town’s key defenders. Saving everyone, however, appears to be anything but easy, leaving plenty of room for suspense, frightening encounters, and the kind of eerie moments that make a supernatural thriller worth settling in for.

The cast also includes Charlie Heaton, best known for playing Jonathan Byers on Netflix’s Stranger Things, and Mackenzie Davis, who appeared in the holiday comedy Happiest Season. Still, Hartnett is understandably attracting much of the attention as the show’s leading man.

Below Arrives at an Interesting Point in Hartnett’s Career

The timing of Below is particularly notable because Hartnett’s career has taken several turns since he became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable young stars.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, he was widely known as a Hollywood heartthrob. His filmography during that period included lighter dramas and comedies such as Here on Earth and 40 Days and 40 Nights, while he also took on considerably more serious material.

Hartnett appeared in major war films including Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down, demonstrating that his career was never limited entirely to romantic dramas or conventional leading-man roles.

He later appeared in movies such as The Black Dahlia and Sin City, both released in 2005. Although those projects attracted attention, many of Hartnett’s subsequent films failed to leave much of an impression.

His television work, however, eventually gave him some of his most interesting opportunities.

Television Has Brought Out Some of Hartnett’s Best Recent Roles

One of Hartnett’s most notable television performances came in Penny Dreadful, the beloved fantasy series in which he played Ethan Chandler.

He later appeared in Black Mirror, taking on the role of an astronaut in the episode “Beyond the Sea.” The performance gave him another opportunity to explore darker and more dramatic material.

Hartnett also showed a different side of his range in The Bear, where he played Frank, the husband of Tiff, played by Gillian Jacobs. The character appeared in several episodes and managed to be both funny and dramatic.

Frank’s storyline also provided an important contrast between old and new family relationships. His presence helped Richie, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, recognize that moving forward was necessary.

These television appearances have helped establish Hartnett as an actor capable of moving comfortably between genres. Below now gives him the chance to bring that experience directly into a supernatural thriller.

Hartnett Has More Than One Thriller Coming This Fall

Below isn’t Hartnett’s only major project arriving in fall 2026.

He will also appear in the highly anticipated film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Verity. Hartnett plays Jeremy Crawford, whose wife, an author, becomes bedridden following an accident. As expected from the story’s premise, there is considerably more going on beneath the surface.

Together, Verity and Below represent another stretch of thriller-focused work for Hartnett. While it would be interesting to see him return to comedy, particularly given his appearances on Drunk History, his recent dramatic and genre roles have provided some of his most intriguing performances.

His career has also shown that being a former Hollywood heartthrob does not define what he can do as an actor. Hartnett has spent years demonstrating his range, from playing Laurie Strode’s son in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later to portraying a teenager who suspects his teachers may actually be aliens in The Faculty, and from Penny Dreadful to Black Mirror and The Bear.

More recently, he played physicist Ernest Lawrence in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer in 2023 before taking on one of his most prominent recent roles as Cooper Abbott in M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap.

Trap may not work for everyone, and its extensive concert sequences can be a distraction before the story becomes more compelling toward the end. Still, seeing Hartnett once again in the lead of a modern thriller was a welcome reminder of what he can bring to the genre.

Why Below Is Worth Watching

Below brings several familiar elements of Hartnett’s career together in one project. He is leading a thriller, returning to supernatural and horror territory, and playing a character whose survival may depend on confronting something far outside the ordinary.

The Newfoundland setting gives the series another distinctive element, while the presence of sea creatures provides a threat that feels particularly suited to a story built around isolation and suspense.

Most importantly, the teaser suggests that Hartnett is comfortable carrying the series. After spending years moving between film and television, he now has the opportunity to anchor a six-episode Netflix thriller from beginning to end.

For viewers looking for something dark and supernatural as the weather turns colder, the timing could hardly be better.

Below premieres on Netflix on October 8, 2026, with all six episodes released at once.