'Eerie' 5-part thriller with Death in Paradise star is already on my 2026 watchlist

Sky has unveiled a first look at its upcoming thriller, Possession, a five-part "genre-bending" series starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Loki).

Death in Paradise actress Shantol Jackson also features in the star-studded cast, alongside Jonny Lee Miller (The Crown, Elementary) and Bel Powley (A Small Light, The Morning Show). 

© Des Willie

As a big thriller fan, I can't wait for this one. The series comes from Karla Crome, whose previous writing credits include hit Harlan Coben thrillers, The Stranger and Safe. Meanwhile, Strike and Mrs Wilson executive producers Ruth Kenley-Letts and Neil Blair are also on board - so thriller fans are in for a compelling watch!

Keep reading to find out more…

What is Possession about? 

The series follows an ambitious bi‑racial lawyer named Claudia, who travels to Jamaica to challenge an inheritance claim made by a local man, Cudjoe East, against a wealthy white aristocrat, Oliver Connaught. 

© Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

The synopsis continues: "But the case takes an unsettling turn when Claudia discovers that the disputed estate is the very place that has haunted her nightmares: Hope Hill, the Connaught family’s former plantation.

"As Claudia and Oliver dig deeper, they uncover a disturbing link between the plantation’s brutal past and the injustices still shaping the present."

© Red Planet Pictures/Denis Guyenon/BBC

The thriller is billed as a "bold, genre‑bending series that confronts the enduring legacy of colonialism, blending eerie mystery with the vibrant, restless energy of the Caribbean."

Who stars in Possession? 

Gugu Mbatha-Raw leads the cast as Claudia, alongside Jonny Lee Miller as Oliver Connaught, Sheldon Shepherd (Bob Marley: One Love) as Cudjoe East and Shantol Jackson as Sarah. 

They're joined by Bel Powley (A Small Light, The Morning Show) as Charlotte, Nadean Rawlins (Bob Marley: One Love, Sprinter) as Mercy, Sean Gilder (Mary & George, Slow Horses) as Tom McKenzie, Olunike Adeliyi (The Fire Inside, Mike) as Patsy Dawkins and Richard Dillane (Wolf Hall, The Crown) as Eugene Desfrienes.

© Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Im

Rounding out the cast are Diveen Henry (The Day of the Jackal, Manhunt) as Flora, Jack Bandeira (Happy Valley, Black Mirror) as Kenneth Connaught, Jeff Crossley (Bob Marley: One Love, Sprinter) as Angelo and Safina Simpson as Betina.

When will Possession be released?

A release date for the five-part series has yet to be revealed. However, now that the first look has arrived, viewers shouldn't wait for too long.  

Possession comes to Sky and NOW in the UK in 2026. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution is handling international sales of the series.