Ana de Armas and Oscar Winner in Talks for Spy Series

The upcoming Apple TV+ show "Safe Houses" is based on a novel series.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Acclaimed actresses Ana de Armas and Jennifer Connelly are in negotiations to star in the upcoming Apple TV+ spy series "Safe Houses". The show will be based on the 2018 novel of the same name by author Dan Fesperman, which is the first in his Claire Saylor series. The series will follow the story of a fugitive agent accused of a crime and the widow of an ambassador as they investigate a murder from opposite sides, uncovering a vast global conspiracy.

Why it matters

This high-profile casting for a new spy thriller series based on a popular novel series signals Apple's continued investment in prestige television programming to attract subscribers. The involvement of acclaimed writers and directors also suggests the series will have strong production values and an engaging narrative.

The details

The eight-episode series "Safe Houses" will be executive produced and showrun by Gideon Raff, known for his work on the acclaimed series "Homeland". The story will follow the characters of Sofia Jiménez, played by Ana de Armas, and Ambassador Elizabeth Winthrop, played by Jennifer Connelly, as they investigate a murder from opposing sides. The series is based on the first novel in Dan Fesperman's Claire Saylor series, which has since expanded to two more books.

  • The novel "Safe Houses" was published in 2018.
  • The second novel in the series, "The Cover Wife", was published in 2021.
  • The third novel, "Winter Work", was published in 2022.

The players

Ana de Armas

A rising Spanish actress known for roles in films like "Blade Runner 2049", "Knives Out", and the upcoming "Ballerina".

Jennifer Connelly

An acclaimed American actress who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "A Beautiful Mind" in 2001. She has also starred in films like "Requiem for a Dream" and the Apple TV+ series "Dark Matter".

Gideon Raff

An Israeli writer and director known for creating the acclaimed Showtime series "Homeland".

Dan Fesperman

An American author who has written over a dozen novels, including the "Claire Saylor" spy thriller series that "Safe Houses" is based on.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're thrilled to be working with such an incredible cast and creative team on this gripping new spy series.”

— Zack Van Amburg, Head of Worldwide Video at Apple (Deadline)

What’s next

The series is currently in development, with no set release date announced yet. Fans of the "Claire Saylor" book series and viewers interested in high-quality spy thrillers will be eagerly awaiting more updates on the show's progress.

The takeaway

The casting of acclaimed actors like Ana de Armas and Jennifer Connelly, combined with the involvement of an acclaimed writer/director in Gideon Raff, suggests that "Safe Houses" has the potential to be a prestige spy drama that could further bolster Apple TV+'s growing reputation for quality original programming.