Key facts
- Apple TV+ is releasing a new series adaptation of 'Cape Fear.'
- Javier Bardem stars as Max Cady, with Amy Adams playing his former defense attorney and target.
- The series fundamentally changes the original premise, with Max Cady being exonerated.
- Showrunner Nick Antosca describes the adaptation as 'a nightmare for today,' reflecting contemporary fears.
- Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are executive producers on the series.
- The series is set in Savannah and uses stylized cinematic techniques.
Apple TV+'s new series adaptation of 'Cape Fear,' starring Javier Bardem as Max Cady and Amy Adams as Anna Bowden, offers a significant departure from previous versions. Unlike the original premise where Cady sought revenge after being testified against, this Max Cady is exonerated. The series explores contemporary anxieties, with showrunner Nick Antosca describing it as 'a nightmare for today.' Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg serve as executive producers, having approved the fundamental changes to the narrative. The adaptation is set in Savannah, Georgia, and employs stylized cinematic techniques, drawing inspiration from giallo horror. The series, based on John D. MacDonald's 1957 novel and inspired by the 1962 and 1991 film adaptations, features Bardem's Cady as a captivating villain whose presence elevates the script. The updated plot sees Anna Bowden, a lawyer who unsuccessfully defended Max 17 years prior, now married to the prosecutor, Tom Bowden. Max's early release, following the suicide of a mistress who left evidence implicating her in his wife's murder, shatters the Bowdens' seemingly perfect life. The series delves into the family's hidden tensions, with their son Zack withdrawn and unsettling incidents, like dead skunks in the pool, hinting at underlying issues. Javier Bardem's performance is highlighted as a key strength, bringing charm and menace to the role of Max Cady, elevating the script with his presence and introducing ambiguity.