The Changeling: Apple TV+ is bringing us a new spine-tingling horror, starring LaKeith Stanfield, based on this bestselling book

LaKeith Stanfield stars in “The Changeling.”

Credit: Apple TV+

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The Changeling: Apple TV+ is bringing us a new spine-tingling horror, starring LaKeith Stanfield, based on this bestselling book

2 min read

Apple TV+ has a treat for fans of the dark and disturbing: they’re bringing Victor Lavelle’s bestselling novel The Changeling to our screens.

Horror fans, rejoice, because The Changeling is finally, finally, finally coming to Apple TV+ this month.

That’s right: the chilling drama, based on Victor LaValle’s best-selling book of the same name, promises to be a fairytale for grown-ups. 

Or, if you prefer, a “horror story, a parenthood fable and a perilous odyssey through a New York City you didn’t know existed”, as per the official synopsis.

Watch the trailer for The Changeling below:

Produced by and starring LaKeith Stanfield (of Atlanta, Get Out and Judas And The Black Messiah fame), this eerie eight-part drama sounds well worth our time.

Here, then, is what you need to know.

What’s the plot of The Changeling?

As fans of the book will know already, The Changeling follows the story of Apollo, the son of a single mother and a struggling bookseller who scours estate and garage sales for rare first editions.

When his partner Emma gives birth to their son on a stalled subway train – and Apollo stumbles across a first edition of To Kill a Mockingbird (inscribed by Harper Lee to Truman Capote, no less) shortly thereafter– he feels as if he’s been blessed. When inexplicable images on the couple’s smartphones foreshadow trouble, however, the happy story turns nightmarish.

We don’t know yet how closely the series will mirror the book, but we’re already excited to see where the producers take it.

The Changeling will be adapted from the book of the same name.

Credit: Victor Lavelle

Who stars in The Changeling?

In addition to Stanfield, the series stars Clark Backo, Adina Porter, Samuel T Herring, Alexis Louder, Jared Abrahamson and special guest star Malcolm Barrett. 

Stanfield, best known for his roles in Get Out, Atlanta and Judas and the Black Messiah, will take the lead as Apollo

Credit: Getty

Meanwhile, The Changeling is written and adapted by showrunner and executive producer Kelly Marcel (Cruella), and the pilot episode was directed by Melina Matsoukas (of Queen & Slim and Insecure fame).

So, yes, you better believe we’re intrigued.

What are people saying about The Changeling?

Described by critics as “lyrical”, “gut-wrenching”, “powerful” and “frustrating”, it seems we’re absolutely going to have to make up our own minds about this one.

Still, we’ve long been fascinated by those pop culture titles that deal with the horrors of parenthood… and this sounds like it’s going to add its own unique twist to the subgenre.

When can we watch The Changeling?

The Changeling will become available for streaming via Apple TV+ on 8 September.

Anyone else counting down the days?

Images: Apple TV+/Getty/Victor LaValle

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