‘The Conjuring’ Star Ben Hardy Leads Amazon’s ‘Stillwater’ Adaptation

Comic book adaptations have emerged as a reliable source of prestige television for streaming platforms, and Amazon is steadily expanding its impressive collection. From horror-infused mysteries to deep character explorations, the service has demonstrated a strong interest in graphic novels that offer rich atmospheres.

The latest addition to this lineup is a unique entry from a different genre corner. In July, Amazon MGM Studios greenlit a series adaptation of the Skybound graphic novel ‘Stillwater’, created by Chip Zdarsky and Ramón K Pérez, officially ordering an 8-episode run for the one-hour show.

Now, the streamer has secured its leading man. Variety reports that Ben Hardy has been cast in the lead role of Daniel West, who is at the heart of this unsettling small-town mystery.

The official logline describes ‘Stillwater’ as a “mind-bending horror thriller” centered on ex-con Daniel West. When Daniel receives a mysterious letter promising insights into his past and a significant inheritance in the town of Stillwater, he uncovers a community where time stands still, no one ages, and escape seems impossible.

This premise is directly rooted in the source material. The ‘Stillwater’ comic, first published in 2020, has garnered praise for its exploration of the darker aspects of immortality rather than presenting it as a mere fantasy.

Series writers and executive producers Greg Berlanti and Carly Wray, who co-wrote the pilot episode, expressed their long-standing admiration for Hardy. “We’ve been fans of Ben’s for a long time, and we’re thrilled to get to tell this story together,” the duo told Variety. “There’s a toughness to him, but also something incredibly open and soulful underneath it. Daniel needs both. From the moment we saw Ben in the role, it was impossible to imagine anyone else.”

This description aligns with Hardy’s recent career trajectory. He starred in ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’, which achieved the largest global debut in horror history, and is currently involved in multiple projects, including the survival thriller ‘Die by Night’ and the noir mystery ‘Eleven Missing Days’, based on the real 1926 disappearance of Agatha Christie.

Hardy is widely recognized for his role as Queen drummer Roger Taylor in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, a part that required him to claim prior drumming experience just to secure the audition. His filmography also includes ‘6 Underground’, ‘Only the Brave’, and ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’, along with television roles in ‘The Girl Before’, ‘The Woman in White’, and ‘EastEnders’.

‘Stillwater’ marks a new chapter for him, as it offers an unambiguous lead role in a genre series focused entirely on his character’s perspective. This shift toward a leading role has been gradually building, and this casting confirms Amazon’s confidence in him to anchor a full series.

Berlanti and Wray are executive producing alongside Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, and Robbie Rogers from Berlanti Productions. Also serving as executive producers are Robert Kirkman, David Alpert, Rick Jacobs, Glenn Geller, and Zdarsky himself for Skybound Entertainment, along with Jonathan Gabay.

The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television and Amazon MGM Studios, with Berlanti and Wray both operating under overall deals at WBTV.

The comic’s creators have cited classic vampire and immortality fiction as their inspiration, using the concept to explore what a community might sacrifice to achieve eternal life. This thematic ambition initially attracted Berlanti and Wray to the material.

With Hardy now confirmed in the central role, ‘Stillwater’ is poised to become one of Amazon’s more distinctive genre offerings. Fans of eerie small-town horror will likely keep a close eye on upcoming casting and production updates.

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