Oscar winner J.K. Simmons joins Will Poulter in Apple TV's crime thriller Beat the Reaper. Get cast details, plot breakdowns, and production news!
Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash, Spider-Man) has officially joined Will Poulter (The Bear, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) as a series regular in Beat the Reaper, an upcoming high-stakes crime thriller picked up by Apple TV+. Co-produced by Apple Studios and New Regency, the dark comedy series adapts author and physician Josh Bazell's acclaimed 2009 debut novel. Led by showrunner Sam Catlin (Breaking Bad, Preacher) and pilot director Tim Van Patten (The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire), the series follows a Boston hospital intern with a deadly secret past as a mafia hitman.
What Is the Story of Apple TV's Beat the Reaper?
Adapted directly from Josh Bazell's bestseller, Beat the Reaper blends fast-paced medical drama with dark crime comedy.
- A Doctor With a Secret Past: Dr. Peter Brown (played by Will Poulter) is an overworked medical intern navigating a chaotic shift at one of Boston's toughest hospitals. However, behind his medical career lies a dangerous former life as Pietro Brnwa, a lethal hitman for the mob now living under the Federal Witness Protection Program.
- An Eight-Hour Survival Race: Peter's past catches up with him when a dying mobster patient recognizes his true identity. To protect his secret, Peter must keep the patient alive while surviving an eight-hour gauntlet involving federal agents, mafia hitmen, and incompetent hospital staff.
- J.K. Simmons as Dr. Friendly: J.K. Simmons plays Dr. Friendly, an incompetent surgeon who works alongside Peter at the Boston hospital. His unpredictable presence adds further tension and comedy as Peter attempts to navigate his shift without getting killed.
Who Is Behind the Creative Team for Beat the Reaper?
Apple TV and New Regency assembled an award-winning creative roster to bring Beat the Reaper to television.
- Showrunner Sam Catlin: Emmy Award winner Sam Catlin adapts the novel for television and executive produces under his overall deal with Apple TV. Catlin previously served as writer and executive producer on AMC's Breaking Bad and co-created Preacher.
- Director Tim Van Patten: Primetime Emmy winner Tim Van Patten directs the pilot episode and executive produces. Van Patten brings prestige directorial credentials from The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, Black Mirror, Perry Mason, and The Pacific.
- Executive Producing Roster: The series is executive produced by Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, Natalie Lehmann, and Laura Delahaye for New Regency, alongside Rachel Toffler co-executive producing.
What Are J.K. Simmons and Will Poulter Working On Next?
Both lead actors bring extensive filmography credentials to Apple TV's upcoming thriller.
- J.K. Simmons: The veteran actor won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of jazz instructor Terence Fletcher in Whiplash (2014) and earned an Oscar nomination for playing William Frawley in Being the Ricardos (2021). He also stars in the MGM+ crime series The Westies.
- Will Poulter: Poulter won a BAFTA Award for We're the Millers and earned an Emmy nomination for Hulu's limited series Dopesick. His television credits include FX's The Bear and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, alongside film roles in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Union County.