Way back in 2023, it was reported that Tom Hardy was set to star in Apple TV+‘s new serial killer thriller Lazarus alongside Zazie Beetz. Now, two years later, Hardy is out, and Adolescence star Stephan Graham is officially in as the project is set to move forward this summer. Also starring Liev Schreiber, the series is based on the Joona Lina novels by Lars Kepler, a pseudonym for the husband-and-wife writing team of Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril.

Deadline reports that Graham will now play serial killer Jurek Walter, the same role that Hardy was once set to take on. No reason was given for Hardy’s departure or why the deal with the star fell through, but these things aren’t uncommon in Hollywood, so we wouldn’t read too much into it. Graham is the perfect replacement, as he’s hot off the successes of the  Netflix hit Adolescence, as well as Hulu’s A Thousand Blows, both of which were met with critical acclaim.

Beetz is still involved in the project, which apparently has yet to set an official title now. It’s executive produced by showrunners Rowan Joffe and John Hlavin, while Tim Van Patten also serves as an EP and will direct the series’ first two episodes. As far as serial killer thrillers go, this one sounds like a winner, especially with the talents of Schreiber leading the charge:

“Jonah Lynn (Schreiber), an ex-soldier turned homicide detective, is tired of working the tough streets of Philadelphia and moves to a small town in Western Pennsylvania for a quiet life. But, as the town and his family come under attack from the diabolically cunning serial killer Jurek Walter (Graham), Jonah must protect all that he holds dear. When the desperate search for Jurek’s last missing victim forces Jonah to send his adopted daughter, FBI Agent Saga Bauer (Beetz), up against Jurek, how far will Jonah go?”

Tom Hardy Is Currently Starring In His Own Hit Series

Though Hardy won’t be taking on the role of a serial killer for Apple TV+, he’s currently starring in his own hit series on Paramount+. MobLand sees him as Harry Da Souza, a fixer for the Harrigan crime family that’s led by Pierce Brosnan’s character of Conrad. Premiering back on March 30, the drama will end its first-season run this Sunday, and while Paramount has yet to officially give the go-ahead for Season 2, it is expected to return.

Elsewhere, Hardy can also be seen in the recently released Netflix action thriller Havoc, in which he plays Patrick Walker, a homicide detective who must fight his way through the criminal underworld to rescue the estranged son of a politician. Sadly, the film wasn’t a big hit with Hardy fans, but it did have its moments. If you’re looking for a mindless thriller to put on in the background for a couple of hours, you could certainly do worse.

All-in-all, it’s safe to say that Hardy’s career won’t be affected one bit by his departure from Apple’s serial killer thriller. If anything, it’s a win for Graham, who’s currently one of the hottest English actors around right now. We’ll have more news on the project as it becomes available, but in the meantime, be sure to check out Hardy in MobLand on Paraomunt+, and Graham in Adolescence on Netflix.