Blood Saints season 1
| Blood Saints | |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | |
| File:Blood Saints Season 1.jpg Promotional poster | |
| Showrunner | Marcus Vale |
| Starring | |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Vesper+ |
| Original release | October 30, 2026 |
| Season chronology | |
The first season of the American adult superhero television series Blood Saints was created by Marcus Vale for the streaming service Vesper+. Produced by Black Halo Television, 87North Productions, Color Force, and Vesper Studios, the season consists of eight episodes and stars Jon Bernthal, Jodie Comer, Lakeith Stanfield, Adria Arjona, Boyd Holbrook, Jessica Henwick, Wagner Moura, Betty Gilpin, and Michael Shannon.
Set in a near-future society where superpowered individuals are controlled by corporate governments and private military organizations, the season follows former superhero Cain Maddox, also known as Saint Zero, who resurfaces after years in hiding following the massacre known as the Black Eden Incident. Hunted by Dominion Global and blamed for the deaths of hundreds, Cain forms an alliance with a group of unstable vigilantes and rogue enhanced individuals to expose the corruption behind the world's superhero system.
The season premiered on Vesper+ on October 30, 2026, with all eight episodes released simultaneously. It received critical acclaim for its performances, writing, action sequences, social commentary, and visual presentation, though its graphic violence and bleak tone polarized some critics. The season was renewed for a second season in November 2026.
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "False Gods" | Marcus Vale | Marcus Vale | October 30, 2026 | |
| Former superhero Cain Maddox lives in isolation years after the Black Eden Incident destroyed his reputation and killed hundreds of civilians. Dominion Global publicly brands him a terrorist while secretly hunting him after learning he possesses classified evidence tied to illegal enhancement experiments. Investigative journalist Mara Vale uncovers footage suggesting Dominion orchestrated the massacre itself. Meanwhile, enhanced assassin Iris Kane massacres a Dominion strike team after refusing termination orders. Cain is eventually located by Dominion commander Elias Voss, forcing him back into violent conflict for the first time in years. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Burn the Halo" | Timo Tjahjanto | Elena Knox | October 30, 2026 | |
| Cain rescues Mara from Dominion operatives and reluctantly agrees to help expose the corporation. Iris joins the group after learning Dominion intends to erase all unstable enhanced subjects. Flashbacks reveal the creation of the Blood Saints program, where children were subjected to brutal experimentation. Dominion executive Adrian Veidt authorizes a nationwide manhunt while Saint-class hero Gabriel Rex publicly declares Cain an enemy of humanity. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Meat and Metal" | Gareth Evans | Marcus Vale & Elena Knox | October 30, 2026 | |
| Cain and Iris infiltrate an underground enhancement facility trafficking unstable children to private buyers. The mission escalates into a violent massacre after Dominion deploys cybernetic enforcers to eliminate witnesses. Mara discovers evidence linking multiple world governments to Dominion's human experimentation program. Gabriel brutally executes an innocent enhanced civilian on live television to increase public fear of rogue supers. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Saints Don't Pray" | Lexi Alexander | Javier Cortez | October 30, 2026 | |
| The group seeks refuge inside an abandoned superhuman containment district beneath Chicago. Cain reunites with former teammate Naomi Cross, now addicted to enhancement stabilizers after years of psychological abuse by Dominion. Iris learns that Veidt authorized the murder of her family during early enhancement trials. Gabriel begins questioning Dominion after witnessing the company's manipulation of civilian deaths for political gain. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Red Mercy" | Chad Stahelski | Marcus Vale | October 30, 2026 | |
| Dominion launches a false-flag terrorist attack in Los Angeles using chemically altered enhanced prisoners. Cain publicly intervenes to stop the massacre, exposing himself to the world for the first time since Black Eden. Public support for Cain begins shifting after leaked footage contradicts Dominion's narrative. Veidt orders Gabriel to kill Cain permanently, while Mara discovers that Dominion has secretly developed a new generation of engineered children. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Kingdom of Ash" | Sam Hargrave | Elena Knox | October 30, 2026 | |
| Gabriel tracks Cain to an abandoned industrial sector, resulting in a brutal confrontation that leaves hundreds dead. During the battle, Gabriel learns Dominion manipulated his memories and fabricated his heroic public image. Mara broadcasts classified Dominion files online, causing international unrest and violent anti-corporate protests. Veidt activates emergency protocols granting Dominion military authority across several major cities. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Black Eden" | Marcus Vale | Marcus Vale & Javier Cortez | October 30, 2026 | |
| Flashbacks reveal the true events of the Black Eden Incident, where Dominion intentionally detonated a reactor beneath a populated city district to justify expanded anti-enhanced legislation. Cain attempted to stop the disaster but was framed for the catastrophe after refusing Veidt's orders. In the present, Gabriel turns against Dominion after discovering the truth and helps Cain assault Dominion headquarters. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Blood Saints" | Gareth Evans | Marcus Vale | October 30, 2026 | |
| Cain, Iris, Gabriel, and Mara launch a final assault on Dominion Tower as riots erupt worldwide. Veidt unleashes the Seraph Protocol, activating dozens of unstable enhanced soldiers across the city. Gabriel sacrifices himself to disable Dominion's defense grid while Iris kills Veidt in a brutal fight inside the reactor core. Cain broadcasts Dominion's classified archives to the world before disappearing following the tower's destruction. In a post-credits scene, surviving Dominion scientists begin work on a project known as "Heavenfall". | ||||||
Cast and characters
Main
- Jon Bernthal as Cain Maddox / Saint Zero
- Jodie Comer as Mara Vale
- Lakeith Stanfield as Gabriel Rex
- Adria Arjona as Iris Kane
- Boyd Holbrook as Adrian Veidt
- Jessica Henwick as Naomi Cross
- Wagner Moura as Victor Soren
- Betty Gilpin as Evelyn Voss
- Michael Shannon as Elias Voss
Recurring
- Toby Wallace as Eli Mercer
- Sofia Boutella as Nyx
- Jeffrey Wright as Senator Graves
- Jacob Elordi as Ashen
- Dafne Keen as Lyra
- Daniel Kaluuya as Solomon Creed
- Carrie Coon as Dr. Helena Voss
- Scott Adkins as Titan
- Mackenyu as Ren Takeda
- Walton Goggins as Malcolm Reed
Production
Development
On January 12, 2025, Vesper+ announced that an original adult-oriented superhero television series titled Blood Saints was in development from writer and producer Marcus Vale. The project was described as a grounded and hyperviolent deconstruction of modern superhero franchises, celebrity culture, and private militarization. Vale was attached as creator, showrunner, and executive producer.
The series was officially greenlit in July 2025 with an eight-episode first season order. 87North Productions joined the project to oversee the action choreography and stunt design. According to Vale, the series was intentionally developed with no restrictions regarding violence, mature themes, or political subject matter, with the intention of creating “the closest thing possible to a criminal-war thriller disguised as a superhero series”.
Writing
The season was heavily inspired by political thrillers, cyberpunk fiction, military dramas, and revisionist superhero comics. Vale stated that the series was designed to portray superheroes as “products manufactured by corporations rather than symbols of hope”.
The writers explored themes including state violence, media manipulation, militarized policing, surveillance capitalism, celebrity branding, trauma exploitation, and radicalization. Several episodes intentionally avoided traditional superhero conventions by focusing on collateral damage, psychological deterioration, and the commodification of heroism.
Casting
Jon Bernthal was cast as Cain Maddox in September 2025. Marcus Vale stated that Bernthal was selected due to his ability to portray “barely controlled rage mixed with emotional exhaustion”.
Jodie Comer, Lakeith Stanfield, and Adria Arjona joined the cast shortly afterward. Boyd Holbrook and Michael Shannon were cast as the season's primary antagonists in October 2025.
Filming
Principal photography began in February 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, before later moving to Chicago and Prague. Large portions of the season were filmed using practical environments, practical blood effects, and large-scale stunt choreography rather than digital doubles.
Several action sequences required extended filming schedules due to their complexity, including the seventh episode's Black Eden flashback sequence and the finale's Dominion Tower assault.
Music
The season's score was composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The soundtrack blended industrial music, distorted electronic textures, orchestral horror elements, and aggressive synth percussion to reflect the show's violent tone and psychological themes.
Release
The first season of Blood Saints premiered on Vesper+ on October 30, 2026. All eight episodes were released simultaneously.
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 92% based on 118 reviews, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The website's critical consensus reads: “Brutal, politically charged, and visually relentless, Blood Saints delivers one of television's most uncompromising superhero stories.”
On Metacritic, the season received a weighted average score of 81 out of 100 based on 29 critics, indicating “universal acclaim”.
Critics praised the performances of Jon Bernthal and Adria Arjona, the action choreography, practical effects, and worldbuilding. The series was also noted for its bleak social commentary and refusal to romanticize superhero violence. However, some reviewers criticized the season's extreme gore, nihilistic tone, and graphic content.
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Stunt Coordination | Nominated |
| 2027 | Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Superhero Series | Won |
| 2027 | Saturn Awards | Best Streaming Action Thriller Series | Won |
| 2027 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Television Series Drama (Jon Bernthal) | Nominated |
References
External links
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