Apple TV's Next Hit Crime Thriller Is Reinventing A Genre In Just 8 Episodes

Published Oct 17, 2026, 11:46 PM EDT

Dhruv is a Lead Writer in Screen Rant's New TV division. He has been consistently contributing to the website for over two years and has written thousands of articles covering streaming trends, movie/TV analysis, and pop culture breakdowns.
Before Screen Rant, he was a Senior Writer for The Cinemaholic, covering everything from anime to television, from reality TV to movies.
After high school, he was on his way to become a Civil Engineer. However, he soon realized that writing was his true calling. As a result, he took a leap and never looked back.

Apple TV is the streaming home of quite a few genre-bending TV shows. For instance, its acclaimed crime thriller, Sugar, borrows from classic noir before introducing an ambitious sci-fi twist. Similarly, Apple TV's Widow's Bay seamlessly merges comedy with horror in the show's compelling small-town story. An upcoming series on Apple TV will soon join the ranks by reinventing the crime thriller genre.

Created by Jim Keeble and Dudi Appleton, Apple TV's 12 12 12 is easily one of the most exciting upcoming thrillers on the streaming service. The show boasts a star-studded cast led by Jamie Dornan and Anthony Mackie. It is a completely original series, and it is set to land on Apple TV on November 12, 2026.

12 12 12's cast alone is promising enough to convince viewers to check it out when it premieres on Apple TV. However, what makes it even more fascinating is that, despite being touted as a heist thriller, it is introducing a new twist to the subgenre. The twist in question also explains why it has been titled 12 12 12.

12 12 12 Reinvents The Heist Genre With A Multi-Timeline Twist

Image via Apple TV

Heist thrillers are always fascinating, but they often stick to a typical format. Most movies and shows of the genre either walk through the lead up to a high-stakes heist before unfolding the final robbery. Or, they focus on the aftermath of a robbery and how those involved in it are dealing with the consequences of their actions.

Apple TV's 12 12 12 is taking a unique approach to the genre by following a three-timeline format. The first 12 in its narrative stands for 12 months, which is the period required to meticulously plan the heist. Then, 12 hours is the time taken to pull off a massive vault raid in Zurich. Finally, 12 days follow the final fallout and game of cat-and-mouse that takes place across Europe in the heist's aftermath.

The show's story will seemingly shift back and forth between these three timelines, revealing the perspective of both a tracking an FBI agent (Mackie) and a career criminal (Dornan). While straightforward heist narratives are also no less compelling if they are well-thought-out and free from plot holes, this timeline twist in Apple TV's 12 12 12 seems like a fun structural hook.

12 12 12 Is Creating A Format Shows In Other Genres Could Follow

Image via Apple TV

12 12 12's unique storytelling format and promising cast almost guarantees the original Apple TV series will not disappoint. If its distinct approach works well, shows from other genres could also draw some inspiration from it and tread a similar path. In the streaming era, most shows play too safe and unfold linear stories that are easy to follow.

The format followed by the upcoming Apple TV show breaks the predictable momentum of standard TV shows, allowing viewers to experience tension and mystery in a whole new way. Even something as simple as a medical drama could benefit from this format.

For instance, a 12-week timeline could highlight the onset of a patient's symptoms and their misdiagnosis. 12 hours could then follow a high-stakes surgery or procedure that somehow saves them. Finally, 12 days post-op recovery could be about the investigation of the mysterious health condition that led to the chaos.

By jumping back and forth between these three timelines, the hypothetical medical drama could give viewers more than one narrative payoff to look forward to. At the same time, multiple perspectives through the eyes of multiple main characters can also be introduced.

It may be too soon to draw any judgements about the upcoming Apple TV series, but its sheer ambition and ability to bend the rules of crime thrillers make it incredibly exciting.

12 12 12

A crime thriller series centered on a daring heist in Zurich and played out over three connecting timelines.