Josh Hartnett on Finding (and Shedding) His ‘Below’ Accent, and the Car Accident That Nearly Derailed Production

by | Oct 20, 2026 | Entertainment

Josh Hartnett on Finding (and Shedding) His ‘Below’ Accent, and the Car Accident That Nearly Derailed Production

Below, a Newfoundland-set limited series on Netflix, has exceeded viewership projections since its release. The streamer reported that the show, which stars Josh Hartnett as a local fisherman alongside Charlie Heaton and features a giant squid as a central element, garnered 21.2 million views during its opening full week of availability. This marked the platform’s most-watched week ever for a Canadian original production.

Hartnett discussed the show’s strong performance and its reception among audiences, noting that viewership has come from viewers interested in different aspects of the series—some focused on the mystery and creature elements while others engaged with deeper thematic material. He expressed satisfaction with how thoughtfully audiences have responded to the production.

During the interview, Hartnett addressed comparisons between Below and Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay, acknowledging thematic similarities while emphasizing that the shows ultimately differ significantly. He noted that the Below team had already completed filming before becoming aware of the competing series, allowing Netflix to proceed with confidence in the project.

Hartnett also revealed that production was disrupted by a serious automobile accident during filming, in which his vehicle was struck by a police car running a red light at approximately one o’clock in the morning while returning from the set. Though both Hartnett and his driver escaped serious injury, the driver sustained whiplash and ongoing pain. Hartnett credited side-impact airbags with preventing more severe consequences.

The actor further elaborated on his work developing the distinctive Newfoundland accent required for his character, describing it as a unique blend of various regional influences. He explained that the production team employed dialect coaches on set to maintain consistency and prevent the accent from drifting toward Irish, Canadian, or other unintended directions. Regarding the show’s potential continuation, Hartnett indicated that no discussions about a second season have occurred, expressing contentment with current outcomes.

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