Bill Nighy boards Alfonso Cuarón's horror thriller series Ascension at Apple

Bill Nighy has signed on for Apple TV's upcoming series Ascension, according to a report from Variety. The horror thriller is being created by Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón.

The show will star Caitríona Balfe as a documentary filmmaker investigating a 20th-century cult called the Church of Ascension. The series is based on the novel Last Days by Adam Nevill.

Nighy's specific role is being kept secret for now. He joins a project that was first given a series order by Apple in August.

Behind the scenes, Cuarón is co-writing the series with his brother Carlos, as well as Natalie Erika James and Christian White. James and White are also the showrunners, with James set to be the lead director. Cuarón's production company has an ongoing television agreement with Apple, per the report.

Nighy's recent TV work includes guest spots on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and roles in series for Amazon and Showtime.