The Third Day Trailer Previews Dark HBO Mystery Series

HBO miniseries The Third Day has released its full trailer, proving that it has quite a lot to offer in addition to its headliners in Jude Law, Naomie Harris, Katherine Waterston and Emily Watson. Indeed, while we’ve already caught a teaser for the concept-driven drama, the latest clip is a fantastical barrage of intriguingly contrasting imagery of wonderment and terror.

The series comes from creator/executive producer Dennis Kelly (Utopia, Pulling), who, joined by Dean O’Loughlin and Kit de Waal, scripted the series for directors Philippa Lowthorpe and Marc Munden. This creative coalition has concocted a most intriguing format for The Third Day, which—set against the backdrop of a mysterious island off the British coast—has been divided into two distinct stories set in two distinct seasons, centered on Jude Law’s character for “Summer,” followed chronologically by Naomie Harrris’s character for “Winter.”

With that set, check out the full trailer for The Third Day just below.

As the key line from Emily Watson’s character ominously states, “Pain doesn’t know time here,” and it certainly doesn’t exist in this creepy moorish English dojo of death. Indeed, the new trailer—obviously more expansive than the initial teaser trailer dropped back in April—is more focused on the stunning-yet-creepy island setting itself, showcasing sublime visuals that supplement a seemingly supernatural story that almost feels like TV’s Lost meets The Wicker Man (or, more contemporaneously, Midsommar). Indeed, the split narrative of the 6-episode series starts with the arrival of inquisitive newcomer Sam (Law) whose fate doesn’t seem too promising, since the second part switches protagonists to Helen (Harris), a strong-willed investigator who, like Sam before her, will come across some disturbing secrets of the island’s dangerously enchanted world.  

Co-star Law makes a quick return to HBO, having recently reprised his role in sequel series The New Pope, and is set—presumably upon an all-clear from COVID—to reprise his role as the younger version of Albus Dumbledore in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3, which was last set for November 2021, but that may change. In a similar pandemic-vulnerable situation, he’s also set to reprise his role as John Watson in the December 2021-scheduled Sherlock Holmes 3. After that, though, he’ll play Captain Hook in Disney’s live-action adaptation Peter Pan & Wendy.

Naomie Harris, on the other hand, last appeared in 2019 crime drama Black & Blue; an offering that would have been followed by her role reprisal as Moneypenny in James Bond sequel No Time to Die if not for a COVID-caused delay from its original April release date to the currently scheduled premiere set for November 20 (a date that’s increasingly in jeopardy). She’s also rumored to have been cast for the upcoming Marvel sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, as Shriek, the symbiote-joined love interest of the subtitle-named villain (Woody Harrelson). Law and Harris will be joined on The Third Day by names like Katherine Waterston (who’ll again appear with Law in Fantastic Beasts 3), Emily Watson, Paddy Considine and Mark Lewis Jones.

The Third Day will unleash its brand of vexing dread on HBO on Monday, September 14.