Matthew Rhys Leads a Terrifying New 10-Part Horror Drama Set on a Cursed Island Where Ancient Superstitions Turn Deadly — As the Timid Mayor’s Desperate Fight to Save His Town Unleashes a Nightmare That Will Haunt You Long After the Final Episode Ends! Matthew Rhys, returns with a new horror drama that dives deep into eerie mystery and small-town dread. Playing Mayor Tom Loftis, Rhys leads a desperate fight to revive a struggling island community where superstition rules and an ancient curse looms large. Set against a hauntingly atmospheric backdrop, the 10-part series explores the terrifying clash between reason and belief — as dark secrets unravel and the island’s supernatural forces threaten to consume everything. Coming this April, this is a slow-burning, spine-tingling drama for fans who crave genuine horror that stays with you long after the credits roll.

Apple TV has unveiled a first look at its upcoming horror drama, Widow’s Bay, starring Matthew Rhys as the mayor of a quaint but seemingly cursed island town. The ten-part series, which arrives on our screens in April, follows Mayor Tom Loftis as he desperately attempts to revive the struggling community and must contend with superstitious locals who believe their island is cursed.

I’m already looking forward to seeing Matthew Rhys back on my TV screen, having been completely gripped by the Welsh actor’s chilling performance as creepy property tycoon and suspected murderer, Nile Jarvis, in Netflix’s new thriller, The Beast in Me. 

A seriously versatile actor, the 51-year-old has inhabited very different characters across a range of genres, from a Soviet spy posing as a suburban American dad in The Americans to a cynical journalist in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and Mr Darcy in the period drama, Death Comes to Pemberley. Add to the list his latest role as a feeble, cowardly mayor in Apple TV’s chilling new horror drama, Widow’s Bay, which will no doubt have audiences glued as it blends “genuine horror with character-driven comedy”. Sign me up!

Keep reading to find out more…

What is Widow’s Bay about?

The series is set in a quaint island town 40 miles off the coast of New England, where there’s no wifi, spotty cellular reception – and “something lurks beneath the surface”.

Mayor Tom Loftis, who is desperate to revive his struggling community, must contend with superstitious locals who believe their island is cursed. The synopsis continues: “He wants these people to respect him. They don’t. They think he is soft and cowardly. And he is. But Loftis is determined to build a better future for his teenage son and turn the island into a tourist destination.

“Miraculously, he succeeds: tourists are finally coming. Unfortunately, the locals were right.  After decades of calm, the old stories that seemed too ludicrous to be true start happening again.”

Why I’ll be watching the show

While the casting of Matthew Rhys alone is enough to make me tune into Widow’s Bay, the series is created and executive produced by Katie Dippold, who was a writer and story editor on Emmy and Golden Globe winning comedy, Parks and Recreation, which also happens to be one of my favourite sitcoms of all time. It’s safe to say that Katie knows what she’s doing when it comes to comedy writing, and I’m intrigued to see how she blends her comedy writing with horror.

Who stars in Widow’s Bay

Matthew Rhy leads a star-studded ensemble cast, which includes Kate O’Flynn (Everyone Else Burns, My Lady Jane), Kingston Rumi Southwick (Presumed Innocent), Kevin Caroll (The Walking Dead) and Dale Dickey (True Blood).

Comedy legend Stephen Root, known for his roles in Office Space and Dodgeball, also stars in the show. Alongside Matthew, the casting of Stephen will be a huge draw for comedy fans.

How to watch Widow’s Bay

The series premieres on Wednesday, April 29 with the first three episodes. The remaining seven episodes will be released every Wednesday until June 17, 2026.