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Entertainment • TV Series

The Outsider

The Outsider is an American television miniseries that premiered on HBO in 2020.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Outsider is an American television miniseries that premiered on HBO in 2020. Based on Stephen King's 2018 novel of the same name, it follows a murder investigation in Georgia that develops into a supernatural mystery. The series blends crime drama, mystery, and supernatural horror elements.

Premise

The story begins as a homicide investigation after the body of a young boy is discovered in Georgia. As evidence accumulates, the case develops into a supernatural mystery that challenges the investigators' understanding of reality.

Production and release

The Outsider was developed for HBO by Richard Price and premiered in January 2020. It ran for 10 episodes and concluded in March 2020.

Cast

The principal cast includes Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, Bill Camp, Mare Winningham, Paddy Considine, Julianne Nicholson, Yul Vazquez, Jeremy Bobb, and Jason Bateman.

Source material

The miniseries is based on Stephen King's novel The Outsider, published in 2018. The television adaptation retains the novel's crime-and-supernatural framework while translating it into an episodic format.

Key facts

  • The series is adapted from Stephen King's 2018 novel The Outsider.
  • It centers on the investigation into the murder of an 11-year-old boy in Georgia.
  • Ben Mendelsohn stars as detective Ralph Anderson.
  • Cynthia Erivo plays Holly Gibney, a character drawn from King's broader fiction.
  • The series blends police procedural elements with supernatural horror.
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Canadian context

The series aired in Canada on HBO Canada, and Canadian viewers have also encountered it through HBO-branded streaming and broadcast services.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Outsider?
The Outsider is a 2020 American HBO miniseries adapted from Stephen King's 2018 novel of the same name.
How many episodes does it have?
It has 10 episodes.
What genre is it?
It is generally described as a crime drama, mystery, and supernatural horror series.
Who created the TV adaptation?
The series was developed by Richard Price.
Who stars in The Outsider?
The cast includes Ben Mendelsohn and Cynthia Erivo, along with Bill Camp, Mare Winningham, Paddy Considine, Julianne Nicholson, Yul Vazquez, Jeremy Bobb, and Jason Bateman.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Outsider_(1968_TV_series)
    Supports: Shows that another TV series titled The Outsider exists, helping distinguish the 2020 HBO miniseries from the 1968 series.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8550800/
    Supports: Premise, cast, format, original release year, and genre information for the 2020 miniseries.
  3. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/si/show/the-outsider/umc.cmc.36xhg3s1f9mdbqivyqon4fn5v
    Supports: Synopsis, cast list, and identification of the series as a 2020 drama based on Stephen King's novel.
  4. HBO — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNDKWr3Xmjk
    Supports: Official trailer confirming the HBO release, premise, cast, and that the series is based on Stephen King's novel.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_outsider
    Supports: Genre, network, original release date, and high-level synopsis of the series.
  6. HBO Max — https://www.hbomax.com/shows/outsider/77c92a27-f409-45fe-9747-4ca2455cd952
    Supports: Official series description, episode count, release year, and cast.
  7. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-outsider/1000553814/
    Supports: Season count, network, genres, and basic synopsis.