Created by Blake Crouch.
Dark Matter premiered on May 8, 2024.
Distributed by Apple TV+.
Dark Matter (TV Series) Review
Dark Matter is a sci-fi show that mixes big ideas with real emotions.
Joel Edgerton stars as Jason Dessen, a scientist who is suddenly pulled into different versions of his life.
Jennifer Connelly gives the story heart as his wife, making the emotional moments feel real.
The show explores the idea of choices, how one small decision can completely change your life.
It looks sleek, feels tense, and keeps you guessing without relying on constant action.
The supporting cast adds depth, helping the mystery unfold in a clear, engaging way.
Some episodes move slowly and a few storylines stretch longer than needed, but the payoff is worth it.
Dark Matter is perfect for viewers who enjoy thoughtful sci-fi with strong characters, dramatic moments, and a mystery that grows more gripping each episode.
It’s emotional, smart, and satisfying to watch.
CR Rating – 7.6/10
Dark Matter (2024) Actors
Joel Edgerton as Jason Dessen
DOB: June 23, 1974.
Bio: Australian actor and filmmaker known for his versatility across both big-budget studio films and intense, character-driven indie dramas.
He brings quiet intensity to morally complex roles and is recognized for his collaborations as both actor and producer, often helping shape character-focused narratives.
Role : Jason Dessen is the emotional and narrative core of the series, a Chicago-based physicist whose life is upended when he is abducted and transported into alternate realities.
Edgerton portrays multiple iterations of Jason: the man he was, the man he becomes, and the shadow of choices across timelines.
Episodes: 9 eps.
Interesting facts: Edgerton serves as an executive producer on the series and has expressed in interviews that he enjoys projects combining intimate human relationships with high-concept storytelling, finding satisfaction in portraying morally intricate characters.
Notable works: Animal Kingdom, Loving, The Underground Railroad, The Boys in the Boat.
Jennifer Connelly as Daniela Dessen
DOB: December 12, 1970.
Bio: Jennifer Connelly is an Oscar-winning actress celebrated for her emotionally complex and nuanced performances.
She brings intelligence, subtlety, and inward depth to roles requiring both vulnerability and strength.
Role: Daniela Dessen is Jason’s wife and his emotional anchor, a grounding presence across multiple realities.
In some timelines, she is a practicing artist; in others, her life diverges significantly, reflecting the series’ multiverse stakes.
Episodes: 9 eps.
Interesting facts: Connelly has been selective about television work; her involvement signaled early confidence in the project.
Notable works: A Beautiful Mind (Oscar), Requiem for a Dream, Dark City, Blood Diamond.
Alice Braga as Amanda Lucas
DOB: April 15, 1983.
Bio: Brazilian actress and producer who has successfully transitioned to international film and television while maintaining a focus on strong, nuanced character work.
She is known for portraying resourceful, morally complex women who navigate high-stakes situations with intelligence and emotional depth.
Role: Amanda Lucas is a psychiatrist and Velocity Labs insider, playing a critical role in the multiverse mechanics.
In certain realities, she partners with Jason #02, while in others, she allies with Jason #01 to help him navigate the Box and the corridor of alternate realities.
Episodes: 9 eps.
Interesting facts: She draws on her experience in genre films like I Am Legend and dramatic TV such as Queen of the South to bring depth to her characters.
Notable works: I Am Legend, Queen of the South, The Suicide Squad, City of God.
Oakes Fegley as Charlie Dessen
DOB: November 11, 2004.
Bio: Young American actor who transitioned from child roles into substantial supporting parts in major films.
Known for his naturalistic performances, he brings grounded, emotionally honest energy to his characters.
Role: Charlie Dessen is the teenage son of Jason and Daniela.
His existence is the primary emotional anchor for Jason, motivating his desperate attempts to navigate alternate realities and return to his original life.
Episodes: 9 eps.
Interesting facts: His ability to convey vulnerability and intelligence has set him apart as one of the most promising young actors of his generation.
Notable works: The Fabelmans, The Goldfinch, Pete’s Dragon.
Jimmi Simpson as Ryan Holder
DOB: November 21, 1975.
Bio: American character actor celebrated for his versatile, often scene-stealing performances in both television and film.
Known for eccentricity, nervous energy, and emotional range, Simpson has earned Emmy and BAFTA recognition for his work.
Role: Ryan Holder is Jason Dessen’s longtime best friend and a key scientific collaborator in the exploration of alternate realities.
Simpson portrays Ryan as a humanizing lens on the series’ complex physics and the ethical dilemmas surrounding the Box.
Episodes: 9 eps.
Interesting facts: Simpson has a reputation for choosing roles with tonal range, moving seamlessly between comedy and drama.
Notable works: Westworld, Black Mirror (episode), Unhinged, The Late Show guest roles.
Dayo Okeniyi as Leighton Vance
DOB: June 14, 1988.
Bio: Nigerian-American actor known for his dynamic performances in both film and television.
He gained international recognition for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and has since cultivated a career blending genre work with complex dramatic roles.
Role: Leighton Vance is the CEO of Velocity Labs, the cutting-edge tech company behind the Box technology central to the series.
Okeniyi’s portrayal balances charisma, corporate polish, and a subtle menace, presenting Leighton as a visionary whose ethical compromises drive much of the narrative tension
Episodes: 9 eps.
Interesting facts: Okeniyi trained in the U.S. and has consistently gravitated toward roles exploring ambition, moral conflict, and power dynamics.
Notable works: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, See, Fresh.
Amanda Brugel as Blair Caplan
DOB: March 24, 1978.
Bio: Canadian actor celebrated for her versatility across film, television, and stage.
She has earned acclaim for nuanced supporting performances, particularly in character-driven dramas and genre projects.
Role: Blair Caplan is a senior Velocity Labs associate whose personal history and ethical decisions reveal the human consequences behind the company’s experiments with the Box technology.
Brugel’s portrayal imbues Blair with gravitas and moral weight.
Episodes: 5 eps.
Interesting facts: Brugel has been praised for award-worthy television performances in Canada and has publicly championed diversity and representation in casting.
Notable works: The Handmaid’s Tale, Kim’s Convenience, Room.
Aina Brei-Yon as Dawn Lawrence
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Aina Brei-Yon is a multidisciplinary actor and creator, active across television, music, and other creative projects.
She has steadily gained visibility through guest and recurring roles on TV.
Role: Dawn Lawrence is a Velocity Labs security operative whose duties straddle corporate protection and lethal enforcement.
Her arc ties into the show’s thriller beats and provides a physical threat in certain realities.
Episodes: 6 eps.
Interesting facts: Beyond acting, Brei-Yon is active in music and creative production, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective that enriches her screen presence.
Notable works: Guest/recurring TV credits and music/creative projects (catalogued in industry bios).
William Smillie as Matt
DOB: March 20, 1974.
Bio: Chicago-based actor with a strong background in stage and television.
Smillie is trained in improv and ensemble work, which informs his ability to enhance scenes with naturalistic interaction.
Role: Matt is a supporting character connected to Velocity Labs and the personal networks surrounding Jason Dessen.
While not central to the plot, Matt’s interactions reinforce the world-building and narrative stakes.
Episodes: 4 eps.
Interesting facts: Smillie has extensive experience in Chicago-based productions and brings a strong foundation in improv and stage performance to his television work.
Notable works: Chicago-area shows and guest TV parts.
Bassam Abdelfattah as Anthony
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Chicago-based actor with experience in both stage and television.
He has appeared in high-profile Chicago-filmed productions such as The Chi and Chicago Med, bringing authenticity and grounded presence to supporting roles.
Role: Anthony is a supporting character who appears in Velocity Labs and academic environments, contributing to the world-building of Jason Dessen’s multiple realities..
Episodes: 3 eps.
Interesting facts: Abdelfattah actively works in Chicago theatre and television, drawing on his stage experience to deliver subtle, professional performances on screen.
Notable works: The Chi, Chicago Med, various indie credits.
Tiff Abreu as Mindy
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Tiff Abreu is an early-career U.S. television actor with guest roles across both network and streaming productions.
She has built experience portraying realistic teen and young-adult characters, bringing naturalism and relatability to supporting parts.
Role: Mindy is a supporting character appearing in the university and school-related storylines.
She provides perspective on the ripple effects of Jason’s absence in certain realities.
Episodes: 3 eps.
Interesting facts: Her guest appearances span both drama and comedy, showcasing versatility despite limited screen time.
Notable works: The Cleaning Lady, and other guest TV roles.
Jenne Kang as Dr. Julianne Springer
DOB: N/A.
Bio: U.S. television actor with recurring guest appearances across medical and procedural dramas.
She is known for bringing credibility and professional nuance to supporting roles that require technical or scientific authority.
Role: Dr. Julianne Springer is a medical and scientific consultant within Velocity Labs whom Jason encounters while investigating the Box and its effects.
Episodes: 2 eps.
Interesting facts: Kang has accumulated experience in guest roles on prestige TV, often portraying authoritative, procedural, or specialist figures.
Notable works: Guest and recurring appearances in medical/procedural series (specific credits include Chicago Med, Station 19, and similar).
More Actors
• Missy Fierro as Violet.
• Tyler Merritt as Dr. Lindley.
• Rolando Boyce as Dr. Joseph Hart.
• Jimmy Styx as Gunter.
• Kate Eastman as Detective Jamie Mason
FAQ – Dark Matter (2024) TV Series
What is Dark Matter about?
A sci-fi thriller about Jason Dessen, a physicist who is snatched into alternate versions of his life and must fight to return to his family while confronting the moral cost of a multiverse technology.
How many episodes / seasons are there?
Season 1 has nine episodes; Apple TV+ has renewed the series for a second season.
Is the series faithful to the book?
It keeps the novel’s emotional core and multiverse concept while adapting plot details for a serialized TV format.
Has it been renewed for Season 2?
Yes. Apple TV+ renewed the series for Season 2 in August 2024. More on Decider
Where was Dark Matter filmed?
Dark Matter was mainly filmed in Chicago, Illinois, using real neighborhoods, streets, and landmarks.
Key locations included Logan Square, Montrose Harbor, Lake Michigan areas, Cinespace Chicago Film Studios for interiors, and a retired Illinois power plant for the Box scenes.
Conclusion
Dark Matter delivers a rare mix of emotional storytelling and mind-bending sci-fi, creating a series that feels both intimate and epic.
Its strongest elements come from the performances, especially Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly, who ground the show’s complex multiverse concept with real human stakes.
While the pacing slows in a few sections, the overall journey is gripping, thoughtful, and visually striking.
For fans of shows like Westworld, Devs, or Black Mirror, this series offers a rich narrative that keeps you thinking long after the final episode.
In the end, Dark Matter isn’t just about alternate worlds, it’s about love, identity, and the choices that shape our lives.
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