When Apple TV+ unleashed Monarch: Legacy of Monsters in late 2023, it proved that audiences were hungry for prestige television centered on giant creatures. With a cast led by Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, and Anna Sawai, the show earned praise for expanding the MonsterVerse's mythology. Yet for all its ambition, many viewers found themselves wishing for more monster mayhem and less family drama. Now, Netflix's upcoming thriller Below—arriving October 8, 2026—looks poised to deliver exactly that kind of focused, creature-driven experience.
Created by Jesse McKeown and starring Josh Hartnett, Below trades Monarch's globe-trotting conspiracy for a small Newfoundland town haunted by a mysterious sea creature. The six-episode series centers on Calvin Penney (Hartnett), a stubborn but big-hearted fisherman still reeling from his father's mysterious death decades earlier. When an unknown creature surfaces near the town, Calvin must protect his family and community, teaming up with visiting marine biologist Fonda Howander (Mackenzie Davis) to uncover the island's dark secrets.
The trailer opens with warm, idyllic scenes of Calvin's tight-knit community—family reunions, laughter, and the comfort of home. But that cozy atmosphere quickly sours as an oppressive dread settles over the town. "There's something out there," Calvin intones, "It's coming." In a moment straight out of Jaws, he shouts, "Everybody back from the water," as the threat looms. The cast also includes Charlie Heaton, Willow Kean, Ruby Stokes, Rohan Campbell, and Kaleb Horn.
One of the biggest criticisms of Monarch was its pacing. Despite being set in the MonsterVerse, the show often felt more invested in its sprawling human drama than in the Titans themselves. Dual timelines, multiple family storylines, and heavy world-building kept the giant creatures offscreen for long stretches. As one Rotten Tomatoes review put it, "All the interpersonal stuff seems rather… well, small compared to the existence of walking, dinosaur-shaped atomic bombs." Another echoed, "We also don't get enough monsters."
Below, by contrast, seems designed to avoid those pitfalls. Its narrow focus on a single isolated fishing town means the creature is central to every twist, not an occasional interruption. The horror-driven approach promises sustained tension rather than franchise setup. If the show succeeds in making its monster integral to the story, it could deliver the creature feature experience that Monarch fans craved.
This isn't the only monster-centric streaming news making waves. For those looking for more creature features, check out our weekend binge picks for other options. And if you're curious about other upcoming sci-fi, Netflix's Robert Langdon revival might also catch your eye.
With Below, Netflix has a chance to learn from Monarch's missteps and deliver a thriller that balances drama, tension, family history, and—most importantly—plenty of giant monster action. The series has the potential to become a hit not just for its star power, but for its willingness to put the creature front and center. As the premiere date approaches, anticipation is building for what could be the next big thing in monster television.
