In This Article
- The new cast members and what they bring
- Rose, a documentary maker at the centre of the story
- Adam Nevill's Last Days: the source novel
Apple's cult horror series Ascension, inspired by Adam Nevill's novel Last Days, has added three more names to its cast. Deadline reported on 28 October 2026 that Amanda Plummer, Christopher Chung and T'Nia Miller have joined the project.
The announcement follows hard on the heels of another: Bleeding Cool reported that Bill Nighy had signed up alongside Caitríona Balfe, who leads the series.
The new cast members and what they bring
Variety learned that Plummer, Chung and Miller are joining a series that already counts Balfe as its lead. As Variety notes, Nighy's casting had been announced only recently.
Bloody Disgusting lists Plummer's credits as including Pulp Fiction and Needful Things. Chung is known for Slow Horses and Doctor Who, and Miller for The Haunting of Bly Manor.
Screen Rant points out that Chung plays Roddy Ho on Slow Horses. It is a notable pairing of horror pedigree and prestige-television regulars.
Rose, a documentary maker at the centre of the story
According to Variety, the series follows Rose, played by Balfe, a relentless documentary filmmaker and recently divorced mother. The show will feature one-hour episodes.
Bleeding Cool reports that Ascension is co-showrun by Natalie Erika James and Christian White. The project carries Alfonso Cuarón's name in its billing as an Apple TV series.
Apple appears to be keeping other details close. A report from AS noted that no release date or production timeline had been revealed.
Adam Nevill's Last Days: the source novel
Gizmodo confirms the show is based on Adam Nevill's 2012 novel Last Days. Bloody Disgusting adds that Nevill drew inspiration from Jim Jones and Charles Manson to build suspense centred around a cult.
The novel follows debt-ridden London documentary maker Kyle Freeman as he films the story of the Temple of the Last Days, a cult that ended in a 1975 Arizona massacre. Wikipedia records) that it won the 2013 British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel, and that film rights were first optioned in early 2014.
The series is described as inspired by the book rather than a direct adaptation, as Variety's wording makes clear. The heroine is a documentary filmmaker named Rose rather than Kyle, so the television version is already departing from the novel's protagonist.
That makes the documentary-maker-meets-cult premise the common thread. It is a framing that suits episodic television, where each new revelation can be paced across a season.
For a verdict on the book itself, read our review of Last Days. Want the full verdict?
Our review covers the novel's slow-burn dread and whether it will suit your taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Last Days by Adam Nevill worth buying in 2026?
Last Days is a 2012 cult horror novel that won the 2013 British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel. Our review covers whether its slow-burn approach will suit you.
Who has joined the cast of Apple TV's Ascension?
Amanda Plummer, Christopher Chung and T'Nia Miller have joined, according to [Deadline](https://deadline.com/2026/10/amanda-plummer-christopher-chung-tnia-miller-cast-ascension-1237207379/) and [Variety](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/alfonso-cuaron-apple-tv-ascension-cast-1236933558/). Bill Nighy was announced the day before, alongside lead Caitríona Balfe.
What is Ascension based on?
Ascension is inspired by Adam Nevill's 2012 horror novel Last Days. The series centres on Rose, a documentary filmmaker, rather than the novel's Kyle Freeman.
What is Last Days by Adam Nevill about?
It follows debt-ridden London documentary maker Kyle Freeman as he films the story of the Temple of the Last Days, a cult that ended in a 1975 Arizona massacre.
Should I read Last Days before watching Ascension?
The series is inspired by the novel rather than a straight adaptation, so reading it first is optional. It will give you the source material behind the show's cult premise.
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