Beat the Reaper is already turning heads, and for good reason. Apple TV has picked up the upcoming dramedy with Will Poulter in the lead, fresh off the love he got for his role in The Bear.
Yes, this show is happening, and yes, Will Poulter is starring and producing it, and yes, it sounds wild in the best way. From a scary hospital setting to a past that refuses to stay buried, this one is packed with energy.
From The Bear to Beat the Reaper, Will Poulter is clearly not playing it safe
Beat the Reaper feels like one of those roles that Will Poulter has been quietly building toward for years. After watching him steal scenes in The Bear, this new Apple TV project lets him sit fully at the center of the chaos.
He plays Dr. Peter Brown, a medical intern stuck in what is described as Boston’s worst hospital. His shift is brutal, the pressure is nonstop, and his talent for medicine is the only thing keeping him going.

However, Beat the Reaper is not just a hospital story. Peter Brown has a past he wants locked away forever. When a patient recognizes him, everything falls apart. The clock starts ticking, and he has just eight hours to stay alive. Government agents, mob killers, shady surgeons, and a long trail of violence all close in at once. That mix of panic, dark humor, and danger is what gives Beat the Reaper its dramedy edge.
This role fits Poulter because he knows how to balance intensity with heart. He can be funny without trying and serious without going cold. Serving as an executive producer on this project also shows how personal the show is for him. It feels like a step where he is not just acting but shaping the story he wants to tell.
A hospital shift from hell and a past that won’t stay buried
Essentially, Beat the Reaper is a story about staying alive, keeping secrets, and the limited amount of time one has. The show is an adaptation of Josh Bazell’s first novel from 2009, a work that was already quite popular because of its witty nature.
The plot is about Dr. Peter Brown, a medical genius but also a man who has concealed his identity. He used to be a mob assassin, so he is now under the Federal Witness Protection Program.

That twist is what makes Beat the Reaper stand out. Peter is torn between saving a dying mobster or saving himself. If he carries out his task excessively, his disguise gets revealed. In case he falters, he ends up being a person he does not like. That dilemma is the central part of the series and influences every one of his choices.
Sam Catlin, whose credits include Breaking Bad and Preacher, is turning the novel into a show and is the showrunner. Apple Studios and New Regency are the producers of the series.
Apart from Catlin and Poulter, the production team includes Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, and Natalie Lehmann. The presence of Apple TV as a supporter allows the series to be intense, humorous, and quick without any restraint.
With Will Poulter being the front of the Beat the Reaper cast and also being a part of the creative team, the series is already distinctive in its style.
There is nothing but certainty around this series with Apple TV being the broadcaster. The setup of a damaged hospital, a secret past, and a suspenseful time of eight hours to survive is quite straightforward, but the consequences are enormous.
In case of a correct execution, the show might be a chaotic one, a very strong one, and one that people will always remember in a positive way.
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