HBO Max broke new ground in the medical drama space with The Pitt, and it may soon face its first serious challenger, this time from Apple TV. The streamer has greenlit a new medical drama that reads like a provocative mash-up of the HBO breakout and Showtime’s cult crime hit Dexter. Titled Beat the Reaper, the series is based on Josh Bazell’s novel of the same name and is being adapted for television by Breaking Bad writer Sam Catlin. The Bear standout Will Poulter is set to headline the project and will also serve as an executive producer.
Like The Pitt, Beat the Reaper is set inside a relentlessly busy hospital, specifically what’s described as Boston’s worst, per the new report. But unlike the HBO Max series, Apple TV’s medical drama won’t stay confined to the hospital walls, spending significant time outside the ER as it leans into darker, grittier territory. Poulter stars as Dr. Peter Brown, a gifted medical intern stuck working brutal shifts while concealing a dangerous past from his colleagues. That carefully constructed double life begins to unravel when a patient recognizes him, setting off a race against time. According to the official synopsis, Brown has just eight hours to outrun government agents, mob hitmen, quack surgeons, and a growing trail of bodies, all while trying to somehow beat the reaper.
Further details from Bazell’s 2009 novel reveal that Dr. Peter is enrolled in the Federal Witness Protection Program, a consequence of his former life as a mafia hitman. Catlin will serve as showrunner and executive producer under his overall deal with Apple TV, alongside Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, and Natalie Lehmann, who executive produce for New Regency. Beat the Reaper also marks a major milestone for Poulter, who will headline and executive produce his first series. The project comes on the heels of notable small-screen turns in FX’s The Bear, Netflix’s Black Mirror, and Hulu’s Dopesick. Poulter’s schedule remains packed, with upcoming roles in the Netflix drama Saturn Return, the sci-fi comedy I Love Boosters, and Union County, opposite Noah Centineo.
When Does The Pitt Season 2 Return?
Following a hugely successful debut season, anticipation is high for The Pitt’s sophomore run. Unlike many prestige dramas, fans won’t be kept waiting long. The medical series is set to return just a year after its original premiere, and the creators have promised not to compromise on the heightened realism that made the show such a breakout. Beginning January 8, audiences will once again be plunged into the relentless pace of life inside Pittsburgh’s high-pressure ER. A recently released teaser (which you can watch above) introduces a mix of fresh faces and familiar ones as the doctors clock back in for another gruelling shift.
Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Release Date
January 9, 2025
Network
Max
Showrunner
R. Scott Gemmill
Directors
Amanda Marsalis
Writers
Joe Sachs, Cynthia Adarkwa
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Noah Wyle
Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch
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Tracy Ifeachor
Dr. Heather Collins
