How Stephen King and Donald Glover inspired Apple’s intriguing new thriller

[ad_1] Apple TV has develop into synonymous with high-concept science fiction, from breakout hits like Severance and Pluribus to critical-hit fan-favorites like Basis and For All Mankind. In 2026, can the streamer do the identical for horror? One new sequence, arriving later this spring, seems notably promising: Widow’s Bay.

Created by Katie Dippold (Paul Feig’s co-writer on 2016’s Ghostbusters) and based mostly on the spec script she wrote to get a job on Parks and Recreation, Widow’s Bay is a horror-comedy. It additionally appears like what you would possibly get if Stephen King wrote an episode of Atlanta — each of that are unabashed influences for Dippold.

“Atlanta actually confirmed me all of the various things you are able to do with a comedy TV present,” she tells Polygon through e mail. She equally compares the sequence to monster-movie classics like Jaws and An American Werewolf in London, together with the work of Stephen King.

Widow’s Bay stars The Individuals’ Matthew Rhys as Tom Loftis, mayor of the titular city, positioned on an remoted island 40 miles from the New England shoreline. Whereas his greatest problem seems to be bringing dependable web service to the dwindling neighborhood, rumors of a city curse additionally persist. These supernatural superstitions instantly develop into terrifyingly actual, simply as Tom figures out a approach to carry vacationers to Widow’s Bay.

The sequence is government produced by Hiro Murai (Atlanta), who directs 5 episodes. The others are directed by Ti West (the X horror trilogy), Sam Donovan (Severance), and Andrew DeYoung (director of Friendship and The Chair Firm). Dippold is showrunner and an government producer.

As a part of our 2026 preview, Polygon checked in with Dippold to seek out out what Widow’s Bay is basically all about. Try the interview beneath.

<div class="responsive-img image-expandable img-article-item-portrait" style="padding-bottom:150.23474178404%" data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/img-katie-dippold_180941646252.jpeg" data-img-desc=""Katie Dippold is the creator and showrunner of Widow's Bay."" data-modal-id="single-image-modal" data-modal-container-id="single-image-modal-container" data-img-caption=""Image: Apple TV""> <img width="426" height="640" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="img-katie-dippold_180941646252" data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/img-katie-dippold_180941646252.jpeg?q=70&fit=crop&w=426&dpr=1" src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/img-katie-dippold_180941646252.jpeg?q=70&fit=crop&w=426&dpr=1" class="img-brightness-opt-out"/> Katie Dippold is the creator and showrunner of Widow's Bay. Picture: Apple TV Polygon: How would you describe Widow’s Bay to a buddy to persuade them to look at it?

Katie Dippold: To place it merely: It’s concerning the mayor of a New England, blue-collar island city making an attempt to herald tourism. However [the town is] haunted. I’d inform a buddy that [the series is] humorous, but additionally legitimately scary. I believe it captures the sensation of going to a haunted home on the boardwalk within the summertime — besides the performers inside that haunted home are one of the best actors you’ve ever seen.

What are the larger themes at play in Widow’s Bay?

Widow’s Bay looks as if an idyllic city, however there’s one thing lurking beneath the floor. You’re slowly discovering what’s actually happening on this city and [learning] its horrendous historical past. Tales that when sounded ludicrous, we notice really occurred, and any of it may occur once more.

As somebody who’s been in remedy eternally, I’m drawn to tales the place somebody is compelled to return to phrases with the various horrors they’ve been avoiding. I’ll simply depart it at that.

How did Hiro Murai develop into a key a part of Widow’s Bay? Do you see any similarities between this present and his different work as a director?

Atlanta was one other affect on this. I first wrote Widow’s Bay as a pattern again in 2008 to attempt to get employed on Parks and Recreation. [The series] was a bit completely different again then, however I stored revisiting it over time. I turned an enormous fan of Hiro’s work. I needed Widow’s Bay to really feel razor-sharp, and his selections are all the time so particular and unimaginable — hilarious of their subtlety, within the nuances.

Picture: FX I needed the viewers to be transported into a really actual world. And for all of the loopy locations Atlanta went, it was all the time grounded. You need to purchase that this might really occur. Actually, simply imagining what I assumed Hiro would do helped me see the present extra clearly. After which he stated he would direct, and I assumed, Effectively, that’s higher.

Ti West can also be a enjoyable director for this. Had been you a fan of his X trilogy?

I cherished X, however my private favourite is The Home of the Satan. The horror that resonates most with me is the sort that actually unsettles me, but stays unusually fulfilling, and he’s so good at that. Ti’s a grasp at environment and worry coming from the anticipation moderately than the motion. He additionally occurs to be extremely humorous.

Picture: MPI Media Group Why did you select Matthew Rhys to play the mayor? What makes him proper for the function?

OK, I believe Matthew Rhys is without doubt one of the greatest actors I’ve ever seen in my life. And anybody that has ever watched any of his work is aware of what I’m speaking about. I am excited for individuals to see his pitch-perfect comedic timing.

His character, Tom Loftis, is coping with horrors each massive and small: the factor lurking outdoors the constructing, but additionally the co-worker you’re caught with inside who has acid reflux disorder. He is wrangling his co-workers. He’s making an attempt to keep up his composure whereas consistently taking in horrible new info. Matthew pulls you into this journey with him. I’ve actually by no means seen something prefer it. And he doesn’t play it for comedy — he performs it utterly straight. It’s superb.

I’m an enormous fan of Stephen Root, and I used to be excited to see him listed within the solid. Are you able to inform me something about his function in Widow’s Bay?

Stephen performs a salty old-timer on the island, named Wyck. He's the essence of the city — the entire city’s contempt for Loftis, and all of Loftis’ starvation for acceptance. Wyck thinks Loftis is just too cowardly to steer this city. He’s not mistaken. I had no concept what Stephen was going to do when he signed on, however I knew I used to be going to find it irresistible. Stephen is best than anybody at strolling that tonal tightrope — making you snicker one minute, then doing one thing that simply punches you proper within the intestine the following. He’s a genius.