Ana de Armas and Jennifer Connelly are in negotiations to star in Safe Houses, an eight-episode espionage thriller series coming to Apple TV+. The project comes from Gideon Raff, the creator of the hit Showtime series Homeland, and is based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Dan Fesperman. If the deals are finalized, this will mark Ana de Armas first leading role in a television series while bringing Jennifer Connelly back to Apple TV+ following her work in the sci-fi series Dark Matter.
Who Is Involved in Safe Houses: Cast and Crew Details
Ana de Armas, known for her roles in Knives Out, No Time to Die, and the John Wick spin-off Ballerina, is set to step into the world of prestige television. The Cuban-Spanish actress has primarily worked in feature films throughout her career, making Safe Houses a significant move into long-form storytelling.
Jennifer Connelly, an Academy Award winner for A Beautiful Mind and a recent standout in Top Gun: Maverick, is in talks to join the project. She previously collaborated with Apple TV+ on the series Dark Matter and is familiar with the platform’s approach to high-quality science fiction and drama.
Behind the camera, the series brings together experienced talent. Gideon Raff serves as showrunner, executive producer, and will direct several episodes. His work on Homeland earned him an Emmy Award for co-writing the pilot episode. He most recently created the Netflix and Canal+ miniseries The Spy starring Sacha Baron Cohen.
Otto Bathurst, who directed multiple episodes of the acclaimed series Peaky Blinders, is attached to direct the opening block of episodes. The production is a co-venture between Apple Studios and independent studio Wiip, with Paul Lee and David Flynn executive producing for Wiip alongside Alexandra Milchan. Author Dan Fesperman will serve as consulting producer, and Sara Gonzalo is set to produce.
What Is Safe Houses About: Plot and Source Material Explained
Safe Houses is adapted from Dan Fesperman 2018 novel of the same name. Fesperman, a former journalist, built his reputation writing intelligent espionage thrillers grounded in real-world geopolitical tension. His books often draw from his experiences reporting on conflict zones.
The story begins after the assassination of a senior CIA officer in Madrid. Ana de Armas would play Sofia Jimenez, a fugitive intelligence agent who is accused of committing the murder. Jennifer Connelly would portray Ambassador Elizabeth Winthrop, the widow of the slain officer.
What makes the premise stand out is the structure. Both women launch separate investigations from completely opposite sides. Sofia Jimenez is running from the law while trying to clear her name. Elizabeth Winthrop uses her diplomatic access and personal connections to find out who killed her husband. As they dig deeper, their separate paths begin to overlap and they uncover a far-reaching conspiracy that threatens to disrupt the global balance of power.
The eight-episode format allows the series to develop both characters equally and explore the gray areas of intelligence work, betrayal, and grief. The novel has been praised for its realistic portrayal of CIA operations and its tense, cat-and-mouse storytelling.
Ana de Armas First TV Role: Why This Matters for Her Career
For Ana de Armas, Safe Houses represents a deliberate career move into television. While she has become a household name through films like Blade Runner 2049, Knives Out, and her Bond girl turn in No Time to Die, she has never anchored a television series.
The actress recently signed with WME and has been selective about her projects. She starred in Ballerina, the John Wick spinoff, and is attached to the film Sweat directed by J Blakeson. Taking on a streaming series signals that top-tier talent no longer views television as a step down from film, but rather as a space for complex, character-driven stories that movies sometimes cannot accommodate in a two-hour runtime.
Jennifer Connelly Returns to Apple TV+ After Dark Matter
Jennifer Connelly is no stranger to Apple TV+. She starred in Dark Matter, the adaptation of Blake Crouch’s sci-fi novel, opposite Joel Edgerton. That series, which explored alternate realities and identity, was well-received and demonstrated her ability to carry ambitious genre material.
Her casting in Safe Houses continues her pattern of choosing intelligent, emotionally complex roles. Whether in A Beautiful Mind, Requiem for a Dream, or Top Gun: Maverick, Connelly brings a grounded presence to heightened situations. Playing a diplomat turned widow turned investigator fits squarely within her strengths.
Production Team and Creative Direction
Gideon Raff background is essential to understanding why Safe Houses has attracted this level of talent. He co-created Homeland, which remains one of the most respected spy dramas in television history. That show mastered the art of blending personal drama with international intrigue, and Raff appears to be bringing that same sensibility to this project.
Otto Bathurst direction on Peaky Blinders gave that show its distinct visual style, blending period grit with modern cinematic techniques. His involvement suggests Apple TV+ is aiming for a moody, atmospheric thriller rather than a straightforward action series.
Wiip, the studio behind the project, has produced acclaimed series such as Mare of Easttown and The White Lotus. Their track record for working with top-tier talent and streaming platforms adds credibility to the production.
Current Status: Negotiations and What Comes Next
As of February 2026, all deals remain in the negotiation stage. Neither Apple TV+, Wiip, nor representatives for Ana de Armas or Jennifer Connelly have issued official statements confirming their participation. The information originates from industry trade publication Deadline, which has a reliable track record for casting news.
No production start date has been set. There is also no information regarding additional cast members, episode directors beyond Raff and Bathurst, or a premiere window. Given that negotiations are ongoing, it is likely the project is in active development with casting being the major hurdle before cameras can roll.
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What Viewers Can Expect from Safe Houses
Based on the source material and the creative team, Safe Houses is shaping up to be a cerebral spy thriller. The dual-protagonist structure, with two women hunting for truth from opposing positions, offers a fresh dynamic compared to traditional espionage stories that center on male operatives.
The Madrid setting provides a European backdrop that differs from the Washington D.C. or Middle Eastern settings common to the genre. The novel deals with themes of memory, deception, and institutional rot, which align with Raff’s previous work.
For fans of Homeland, The Spy, or intelligent thrillers like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Safe Houses is a project worth tracking. For followers of Ana de Armas and Jennifer Connelly, it represents an opportunity to see two actresses share the screen in a battle of wits and wills.
The lack of a release date means audiences will have to wait, but the pieces on the board suggest Apple TV+ is building something substantial.
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