dark matter

If thrillers are your go-to for a nail-biting binge, where you can’t stop pressing “Next Episode”, and fancy something with a bit of a sci-fi twist, then Apple TV+’s new series Dark Matter should definitely be on your watchlist.

Following recent science fiction successes like 3 Body Problem, Fingernails and Constellation, Dark Matter is a drama that plays with the tantalising idea of alternate realities: a Chicago based physicist (Joel Edgerton) finds himself parted from his wife (Jennifer Connelly) and warped into a version of his life that is familiar yet very different. Things go from fascinating to terrifying when he finds getting back to his own life isn’t easy… Here’s all to know:

What is Dark Matter about?

The new series is based on the highly praised book from 2016 by Blake Crouch, acclaimed as one of the best sci-novels of the 2010s. The King and Obi Wan Kenobi star Joel Edgerton plays Jason Dessen, a smart, successful physicist, as well as a husband and father. His normal everyday life living in Chicago is snatched away from him when out of the blue he’s kidnapped and drugged, with events following that change his life forever. As he awakens, he soon realises that he is in fact now in an alternate universe and version of his life. He discovers that this mirror reality is one in which he made different decisions long in the past, altering the course of his life dramatically. He’s intrigued and in awe at first as he takes it in- what physicist wouldn’t be at such a mind-bending experience? But soon this wonder melts away, and Jason discovers simply leaving to go back to his own life, and the family he knows, will not be an easy task.

What else do we know?

Acting opposite Edgerton is Top Gun: Maverick and Requiem for a Dream star Jennifer Connelly, who plays Jason’s wife, Daniela Dessen. Not much is known yet about her character and how she’ll play into events, but it looks like we’ll see a different version of Daniella that Jason encounters in this alternate reality. There’s yet to be a full trailer for the series, but Connelly’s character has a single line in the clip shown in Apple’s New In 2024 teaser: “Our existence is all about choices”. This existential musing seems to sum up Dark Matter as a whole, as Jason races to navigate a labyrinth of realities and timelines which hinge on his decisions. Is he able to face up to and deal with his own faults to get home safely?

When does Dark Matter release?

Dark Matter is currently set to release on Apple TV+ on 8th May, with the first two episodes premiering together and the rest following weekly. You can watch that short glimpse in Apple TV+’s teaser reel below:

Culture

Want to receive more great articles like this every day? Join our daily email now