Apple TV+ is making a major push into the heist genre with its new series Betamax. The show, previously known as12 12 12, features Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan in leading roles. This international thriller tells a complex story of a massive robbery and its consequences, told across three distinct timelines.
The series follows a cat-and-mouse chase across Europe between a disgraced FBI agent and a career criminal. At the heart of the story is a major raid on a secretive bank vault located under Zurich, Switzerland. Production for the eight-episode season began in 2025, with filming reported in European locations like Budapest, Hungary. The show is officially scheduled to arrive on Apple TV+ in 2026.
The Core Story And Timeline Structure
The narrative of Betamax is built around a single, major heist but explores it from three different time perspectives. This structure is the origin of the series’ original title, 12 12 12.
The story is divided into the 12 months of planning leading up to the robbery, the intense 12 hours during which the heist itself takes place, and the chaotic 12 days following the event as the aftermath unfolds. This method allows viewers to see the detailed preparation, the real-time execution, and the dangerous consequences all at once, creating a puzzle-like viewing experience.
The official logline states the series follows “a disgraced FBI agent (Mackie) and an American career criminal (Dornan) who play a zero-sum game of cat and mouse across Europe. At the center of it all is the daring, epic raid on a bank vault deep beneath the streets of Zurich”.
Cast And Characters: Who’s Who In The Heist
The series brings together a talented international cast led by two well-known actors.
Anthony Mackie plays a disgraced FBI agent determined to track down the criminal mastermind. Mackie, famous for his role as Sam Wilson/Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, also serves as an executive producer on the series through his company, Make It With Gravy.
His primary target is played by Jamie Dornan, who takes on the role of an American career criminal orchestrating the complex Zurich heist. Dornan, known for The Fall and the Fifty Shades films, reunites with Mackie after they both starred in the 2019 film Synchronic. Dornan is also an executive producer on the project.
They are joined by a strong supporting cast, though specific character details are still under wraps. The cast includes Kali Reis, the professional boxer and actress from True Detective: Night Country, and Jack Kesy. European actors Agathe Rousselle (star of Titane) and Sallie Harmsen (from Blade Runner 2049) have also joined in regular roles. Icelandic actor Ólafur Darri Ólafsson rounds out the announced cast.
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Creative Team And Production Details
Betamax is a high-profile project from experienced creators and producers. The series was created, written, and will be executive produced by British writing duo Dudi Appleton and Jim Keeble, whose past work includes crime dramas like Thorne and Silent Witness.
Directing the pilot episode and serving as executive producer is Kari Skogland. Skogland has a strong history with both lead actors, having directed all episodes of the Marvel series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which starred Anthony Mackie.
The series is a co-production between Skydance Television and Anonymous Content. David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Matt Thunell will executive produce for Skydance. Filming for the series started in the summer of 2025, with confirmed production locations in Hungary, capturing the European setting crucial to the story.
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