Nothing like a mysterious sea creature to get a couple of opposites to attract.
Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes star in the explosive trailer for The Essex Serpent, coming to Apple TV+ on May 13.
Based on the 2016 book of the same name by Sarah Perry, The Essex Serpent "follows London widow Cora Seaborne (Danes) who moves to Essex to investigate reports of a mythical serpent," according to the streamer. "She forms a surprising bond of science and skepticism with the local pastor Will Ransome (Hiddleston), but when tragedy strikes, locals accuse her of attracting the creature."
Cora attempts to convince Will of the serpent's existence, but he refuses to believe any of it.
"The serpent is an invention," he says in the trailer. "A symptom of the times we live in."
Cora, frustrated by his unwillingness to listen, uses the creature as a means to attack Will's belief system. "I'd rather believe in a creature people have actually seen than an invisible God," she tells Will. "Is that blasphemy?"
Will's religion threatens to dismantle the bond that he is forming with Cora. "So you can't be my friend and a man of God?," she asks in the trailer.
Rather than allow the fear surrounding the serpent's existence to destroy the town, however, Will sees it as an opportunity to bring everybody closer.
"Everyone of us lives with doubt and fear," he says. "Now is the time for us to come together. Don't be scared. It's when we're most lost that the source of light is closest."
The Essex Serpent is Danes' first recurring television role since Showtime's Homeland. As CIA officer Carrie Mathison, Danes won two Emmys for her performance over the show's run from 2011 to 2020.
Hiddleston currently stars on Disney+'s Loki, which has been renewed for a second season.
The Essex Serpent will debut with two episodes on Apple TV+ on May 13, followed by one new episode weekly through June 10.