Apple TV Plus orders spy thriller from ‘Homeland’ creator

Apple TV Plus ↗ 0.93% announced Monday that it has acquired "Safe Houses," an eight-episode international espionage thriller that will be showrun and executive produced by Emmy Award-winning Gideon Raff, creator of "The Spy" and co-developer of "Homeland". The series, inspired by Dan Fesperman's acclaimed 2018 novel of the same name, represents Apple's continued investment in premium spy thrillers following the success of "Slow Horses."apple+1

Production Partnership and Creative Team

The series is a co-production between global independent studio wiip and Apple Studios. Otto Bathurst, who won a BAFTA for directing "Peaky Blinders," will helm the opening block of episodes, while Raff will direct several additional episodes and serve as executive producer alongside Alexandra Milchan. Paul Lee and David Flynn will executive produce for wiip, with Mike Seid, who developed the series with Raff, serving as co-executive producer alongside Adam Berkowitz.apple+2

"Safe Houses" follows Sofia Jiménez, a fugitive agent accused of murdering a high-ranking CIA officer in Madrid, and Ambassador Elizabeth Winthrop, the victim's widow, as they investigate the crime from opposite sides, "unraveling a vast conspiracy that could upend the balance of global power". Author Fesperman will serve as consulting producer, with Sara Gonzalo as producer.deadline+1

Apple's Expanding Spy Thriller Portfolio

The acquisition strengthens Apple TV Plus's position in the spy thriller genre, building on the critical and commercial success of "Slow Horses," which recently received a seventh season renewal. The Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning series starring Gary Oldman has been celebrated as "undoubtedly the best spy series on television" and holds a Certified Fresh score across all seasons. Apple also recently announced "Down Cemetery Road," another spy-adjacent series from "Slow Horses" author Mick Herron.apple+1

No casting announcements or production dates have been revealed for "Safe Houses." The series marks another high-profile collaboration for wiip, the independent studio behind Emmy-winning projects like "Mare of Easttown" and "The Summer I Turned Pretty". Raff brings extensive espionage storytelling experience, having co-developed "Homeland" and created Netflix's "The Spy".wiip+2