Yaga

Premise and Setting

The series is set in a small, unnamed coastal town where private investigator Charlie Rapp arrives to investigate the disappearance of Henry Park, the young heir to a local commercial fishery. Rapp's investigation quickly intersects with that of Sergeant Carson, a local detective, and becomes entangled with Dr. Katherine Hargrove, a university professor with a complicated personal life. The straightforward missing persons case is complicated by the emergence of enigmatic suspects and hints of ancient magic rooted in Slavic folklore. This fusion of a gritty detective procedural with supernatural horror elements forms the core narrative, creating a mystery where personal secrets and mythical forces collide. Mackenzie Donaldson, the series' executive producer, described the story as a crazy fairy tale dressed up like a detective series, drawing comparisons to shows like True Detective or Broadchurch. The coastal setting provides an isolated, atmospheric backdrop where modern crime and ancient legend can convincingly intertwine.

Development and Production History

The television adaptation of Yaga originated from Kat Sandler's 2019 stage play, which premiered at Toronto's Tarragon Theatre as a modern reimagining of the Baba Yaga legend. Sandler, alongside her collaborative partner Mackenzie Donaldson, began developing the concept for television, pitching it to Bell Media as a twisty drama with half-hour episodes tailored for the Crave streaming service. Bell Media officially greenlit the project in October 2023 and announced it publicly at their Upfronts presentation in June 2025, responding to their own call for a new, engaging drama series. The eight-episode series was produced through a partnership between British Columbia's Front Street Pictures and Blink49 Studios, where Donaldson served as Vice President of Scripted Television and as an executive producer. Other executive producers included Andrew Miller and lead actress Carrie-Anne Moss, with Charles Cooper serving as the on-set producer for the production.

Sandler served as the showrunner for the production, which was filmed in Victoria, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island in February and March of 2026. The coastal location provided the atmospheric setting for the story's small-town mystery, with the town of Rapp serving as a central, fictional location. Directing duties were shared by David Frazee and Rachel Talalay, both experienced hands in television drama. The production schedule was compact, with principal photography completed within two months, allowing the series to premiere later the same year. The choice to film in British Columbia supported local production infrastructure and utilized the province's diverse landscapes to create the show's distinct visual tone.

Cast and Characters

The principal cast for Yaga was announced on February 18, 2026, while filming was underway. Carrie-Anne Moss stars as Dr. Katherine Hargrove, a university professor drawn into the investigation. Moss stated she was drawn to the project by Sandler's creative take on the tale of Baba Yaga. Noah Reid, who had participated in workshops for the original stage play, plays Charlie Rapp, the private investigator at the centre of the story. Clark Backo portrays Sergeant Carson, the local detective, and she described the series as a mystery thriller examining the power needed to overcome those who think they're untouchable. Hudson Williams performs in a dual role as the missing heir Henry Park and his roommate, Logan Casey. Williams had recently starred in another Crave Original series, Heated Rivalry. The casting of Williams generated significant interest, reportedly leading to sold-out print copies of Sandler's original play shortly after the announcement.

Additional supporting cast members were officially announced on April 23, 2026, expanding the roster of the mysterious coastal town. The supporting cast features several esteemed Canadian actors, adding depth to the town's mysterious inhabitants and suspects in the central case. This ensemble includes Sheila McCarthy as Olena Yaha, a local woman originally from Ukraine, Megan Follows and Katharine Isabelle in undisclosed roles, and Ezra Franky as Pam Russell. Other confirmed actors are Patrick Gilmore as Eckert, Hiro Kanagawa, Emilija Baranac, Georgia Acken, and Anisa Harris in supporting roles, with Sam Krochmal in a recurring role. This group brought together veterans of Canadian film and television with newer talents to populate the show's world.

International Release and Distribution Strategy

Yaga premiered in Canada on October 23, 2026, with its first two episodes debuting on Bell Media's Crave streaming service. The series consists of eight half-hour episodes, though an alternative version comprising four 60-minute episodes was packaged for international distributors to accommodate different broadcasting formats. International sales were handled by Bell Media's distribution arm, Sphere Abacus, which secured deals with major platforms across multiple continents shortly after production wrapped. The series was acquired by Sky for the United Kingdom and Ireland, HBO Max for the rest of Europe, Foxtel in Australia, and Sky New Zealand in New Zealand, ensuring a wide global audience.

In the United States, AMC+ secured the streaming rights through a competitive bid, adding the series to its slate of witchcraft-themed programming, which included shows like Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale. This strategic acquisition aligned with AMC+'s genre programming focus. Prior to its streaming debut, Yaga received a preview screening as part of the Primetime program at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, offering an early look to critics and industry audiences and generating initial buzz. The simultaneous international release on October 23, 2026, in markets like the United States on AMC+ demonstrated a coordinated global launch strategy for the Canadian-made series.

Critical Reception and Early Reviews

Early critical response to Yaga was generally favourable, with reviewers often highlighting its unique genre blend. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series held a 90% approval rating based on reviews from 10 critics, with an average score of 7.0 out of 10. The critical consensus highlighted the show's successful blend of detective noir and folk horror, praising its atmospheric tension and inventive premise. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 69 out of 100 based on five critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception according to the site's rating system. Reviews frequently praised the atmospheric direction by Frazee and Talalay, Sandler's inventive script that modernized the folklore, and the strong performances from the central cast, particularly Moss and Reid. The show's half-hour format was also noted as a refreshing pace for a mystery series, allowing for tight, focused storytelling without filler.

Cultural Context and Thematic Analysis

Yaga joins a contemporary wave of television that recontextualizes folklore within modern genres, in this case grafting the ancient Slavic myth of Baba Yaga onto a Canadian coastal mystery. The series explores themes of power, particularly who holds it and how it can be challenged, as noted by actor Clark Backo in describing the narrative as looking at what kind of power it might take to overcome those who think they're untouchable. The setting of a small, insular town allows the show to examine secrets, legacy, and the clash between rational investigation and supernatural belief, themes common to both detective fiction and horror. As an original Crave production developed specifically for the streaming service, it also reflects a strategic move by Canadian media companies to create distinctive, exportable genre content with local creative talent at its core.

The project's origin as a stage play at the Tarragon Theatre, a notable venue for new Canadian works, roots it in the country's theatrical tradition. Its adaptation for television by the original playwright, who also served as showrunner, ensured a consistent authorial voice. The involvement of Blink49 Studios, a company focused on scripted television with Canadian talent, further solidified its domestic production credentials. The series' successful international sales to platforms like Sky and HBO Max demonstrate the global marketability of Canadian genre stories that blend local landscapes with universal mythological archetypes.

Production Details and Creative Team

The creative team behind Yaga combined established industry professionals with the distinctive voice of creator Kat Sandler. Sandler, as showrunner and head writer, oversaw the translation of her stage play to the television format, maintaining the story's core mystery and folkloric elements. Executive producer Mackenzie Donaldson played a key role in the initial development and pitch to Bell Media, leveraging her position at Blink49 Studios to shepherd the project. The directors, David Frazee and Rachel Talalay, brought extensive experience in directing television drama and genre series, which contributed to the show's polished visual style and pacing. The production was a collaboration between Front Street Pictures, a British Columbia-based company experienced in local filming, and Blink49 Studios, which provided development and production support.

The series was filmed under the official title Yaga during its production in Victoria. The choice of Vancouver Island provided not only a cost-effective production base within Canada but also the specific misty, wooded, and coastal aesthetics required by the script. The production design likely worked to create a contrast between the mundane reality of a fishing town and the eerie, magical undertones of the story. The music, cinematography, and costume design all served to build this dual world, a task managed by the various department heads under the guidance of the producers and directors. This attention to detail in production helped realize Sandler and Donaldson's vision of a detective story wrapped in a fairy tale.

Questions about Yaga

Where can I watch Yaga in Canada?

Yaga is exclusively available on the Crave streaming service in Canada. The series premiered on October 23, 2026, with its first two episodes. All eight episodes of the first season are streaming on the platform, which is owned by Bell Media. Crave is the domestic home for all Crave Original series, including this one. A subscription to Crave is required to access the full series.

Is Yaga based on a true story?

No, Yaga is not based on a true story. It is a fictional supernatural horror mystery series created by Kat Sandler. The narrative is inspired by the Slavic folk legend of Baba Yaga, a mythical witch-like figure from Eastern European folklore. Sandler first explored this concept in her 2019 stage play of the same name, which she later adapted for television with a modern detective story framework set in a Canadian coastal town.

Who stars in the Yaga TV series?

The series stars Carrie-Anne Moss as Professor Katherine Hargrove, Noah Reid as private investigator Charlie Rapp, and Clark Backo as Sergeant Carson. Hudson Williams plays a dual role as the missing Henry Park and his roommate Logan Casey. The supporting cast includes notable Canadian actors such as Sheila McCarthy as Olena Yaha, Megan Follows, Katharine Isabelle, Ezra Franky as Pam Russell, and Patrick Gilmore as Eckert. The full cast was announced in two stages in February and April 2026.

How many episodes are in Yaga?

Yaga consists of eight episodes, each with a runtime of approximately 30 minutes. For international distribution, the series was also offered as an alternative package of four 60-minute episodes. The shorter runtime was a deliberate creative choice by the creators to suit the pacing of a twisty, half-hour drama series for Crave, as per the initial pitch to Bell Media. This format allows for a brisk, focused narrative.

Where was Yaga filmed?

Yaga was filmed entirely in British Columbia, Canada. Principal photography took place in and around Victoria on Vancouver Island during February and March of 2026. The coastal landscapes and small-town settings of Vancouver Island were used to create the atmospheric backdrop for the series' mysterious events. The production was based out of Front Street Pictures' operations in the province.

Will there be a second season of Yaga?

As of its premiere in October 2026, there has been no official announcement regarding a second season of Yaga from Bell Media or the producers. The series premiered on October 23, 2026, on Crave in Canada and was acquired by several international platforms including AMC+ in the United States. The first season consists of eight episodes that present a complete mystery narrative based on the investigation of Henry Park's disappearance. A renewal decision will depend on factors such as viewership and critical reception. The series received generally favorable reviews, with a 90% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes from 10 critics at the time of its release.

Sources and further reading

• Yaga (Wikipedia)
• Hudson Williams Is "Scary Hot" In 'Yaga' Reimagining (deadline.com)
• Yaga (productionlist.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-05.