Apple TV’s New Stephen King-Like Horror Series Has A Secret Connection To 7-Part Classic Sitcom

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Apple TV has a new horror series, but its creator brought it from her time with a classic sitcom.

Katie Dippold’s debut series, Widow’s Bay, centers on a small town with a hidden, unsettling past. When the new mayor, Tom Loftis, tries to boost the local economy by attracting tourists, he dismisses the town’s long-held superstitions, stirring up trouble. The show features a strong cast, led by Emmy winner Matthew Rhys (known for Americans), and also stars Kate O’Flynn (My Lady Jane), Stephen Root (Barry), and Kevin Carroll (Snowfall), among others.

Before Widow’s Bay debuted, Ash Crossan from ScreenRant spoke with creator Katie Dippold about the series. Dippold revealed that the horror show actually started as a writing exercise she used when applying for a writing job on Parks and Recreation. She admitted the idea evolved significantly from that initial sample into the final script for the pilot episode.

She did mention that one scene from her first draft still exists: Loftis giving Arthur Lloyd, a travel writer for the New York Times, a tour of the town’s historical society. However, even that scene has changed. Originally, Loftis showed the exhibit to a family. The change came about after years of developing the story and considering Loftis’s motivations and goals.

Katie Dippold explained that the conversation shifted to him attempting to attract visitors and bring in a well-known reporter. She felt this version was closest to the original exchange, though the original was funnier. Importantly, she believes it showcased her comedic style, which ultimately led to Mike Schur hiring her.

Dippold admitted that her initial version of Widow’s Bay wouldn’t have satisfied her as a horror fan, and it might have come across as a comedy instead of something truly frightening. She didn’t like that possibility, so she revised the script, determined to create a genuinely immersive and suspenseful atmosphere before subverting expectations with moments of humor and surprise.

Katie Dippold started her career performing sketch comedy, but quickly transitioned into writing, landing her first TV job on MADtv. Her career really took off with Parks and Recreation, where she wrote seven episodes and worked on the creative team for four years. She then began a successful partnership with director Paul Feig, who directed her first feature film script, the action comedy The Heat, and later his reimagining of Ghostbusters.

This lighthearted comedy about supernatural events helped launch her career in horror before she took on Widow’s Bay. Before that, she wrote the script for Disney’s reboot of Haunted Mansion, directed by Justin Simien. Several people contributed additional material to the film, including the original director, Guillermo del Toro, and others who received writing credits.

Dippold isn’t alone in moving from comedy to horror. Jordan Peele became hugely successful after winning an Oscar for Get Out, and Zach Cregger followed up Barbarian with another hit, Weapons. David Gordon Green also launched a successful horror run with the 2018 Halloween reboot. John Krasinski, known for his sitcom work, also found success directing the Quiet Place movies.

Even though her plans for the show changed quite a bit, Dippold still brought her comedic background to Widow’s Bay. Critics are really impressed with how the series blends horror and humor. The show is also receiving high marks for its actors and its storytelling, which some are comparing to Stephen King. As a result, Widow’s Bay has earned a rare 100% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, setting it up for success in the coming weeks and potentially beyond, with hopes for future seasons.

New episodes of Widow’s Bay air Wednesdays on Apple TV.

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2026-04-29 22:18