Twelve Hands: Sanctum

Twelve Hands: Sanctum
Promotional artwork
Showrunner	Naomi Elridge
Starring	Jessica Chastain Manny Jacinto Zoë Chao Richard Armitage Kiana Madeira Clancy Brown
No. of episodes	8
Release
Original network	Netflix

Twelve Hands: Sanctum is the first season of the American horror anthology television series Twelve Hands, created by Naomi Elridge. The season is scheduled to be released on Netflix in October 2025. Like future seasons in the series, Sanctum features a self-contained narrative, cast, and setting, revolving around the eerie disappearance of a missionary group inside a reclusive desert commune in 1991.

Synopsis

Set in 1991, a group of investigators are sent to a remote religious commune in the Nevada desert after twelve missionaries vanish without a trace. The site—nicknamed "The Sanctum"—was founded by a spiritual leader whose teachings blurred the lines between faith and control. As the investigators begin to unravel the compound's secrets, they uncover a disturbing history of mind control, buried crimes, and supernatural occurrences that suggest the commune's influence may not have ended with the disappearances.

Cast and characters

• Toni Collette as Dr. Miriam Harrow – A trauma psychologist sent to assess a disturbed patient in an isolated asylum, only to uncover a dark history tied to her own past.
• Dylan Minnette as Eli Crane – A mysterious young man found catatonic in the asylum's east wing, holding secrets that trigger the unraveling of reality.
• Richard Jenkins as Father Merrill – A defrocked priest living on the asylum grounds, warning of a spiritual contagion no one else believes exists.
• Jodie Turner-Smith as Detective Carla Voss – Assigned to investigate a series of disappearances linked to the facility’s former patients.
• David Dastmalchian as Dr. Lennox Reed – The asylum’s chief medical officer, whose unorthodox treatments may have unlocked something monstrous.
• Rhea Seehorn as Evelyn Sharpe – The asylum's head nurse, fiercely protective of the patients — and hiding a decade’s worth of secrets.
• Logan Marshall-Green as Tom Calder – A groundskeeper and former inmate, whose knowledge of the building’s layout proves key to survival.
• Olwen Fouéré as Sister Moira – A near-mute nun who speaks only in riddles about “the hollow hour.”

• Jamie Clayton as Maud Arlen – A reclusive artist invited to paint murals in the asylum's chapel; her work begins to mirror real murders.

Production

Conception

Naomi Elridge began developing the premise for Twelve Hands in 2017 after initial attempts to create a horror series based on DC Comics characters failed to gain traction. She ultimately pivoted to creating a wholly original property grounded in atmospheric horror. The idea for Sanctum stemmed from her interest in religious trauma, desert isolation, and institutional abuse. Elridge envisioned the series as an anthology where each season would tackle a distinct psychological fear through self-contained narratives, rather than relying solely on depictions of murder or gore. She described Twelve Hands as a "character-first descent into dread," where horror emerges from belief systems and moral ambiguity.

Development

Elridge assembled a small team of writers in early 2018, including Freddie Goodwin, who initially joined as an editor but later contributed several episode scripts. She completed a polished pilot and pitch package by late 2018, which included mood boards, a tone reel, and early casting suggestions. Netflix acquired the series in mid-2019, commissioning eight episodes for the first season and granting Elridge creative control over casting, narrative structure, and final edits. The deal was part of Netflix’s push to expand its high-concept horror slate.

Casting

Jessica Chastain was cast in the lead role of Sister Maura in early 2020, marking her first return to television since Scenes from a Marriage. Her attachment to the project reportedly accelerated greenlighting efforts. Manny Jacinto, Zoë Chao, Richard Armitage, and Kiana Madeira were announced soon after, rounding out the core investigative ensemble. Veteran actor Clancy Brown joined in a supporting role as the town sheriff. Casting was praised by early press releases for its mix of prestige talent and rising actors, aligning with Elridge’s vision for an emotionally grounded horror experience.

Filming

Filming for the first season began in January 2024 and concluded in May 2024. The series was shot primarily in New Mexico, with exterior sequences filmed near real abandoned mining towns and ghost settlements to capture the setting's eerie authenticity. Interior scenes and ritual locations were constructed on soundstages in Albuquerque. Director of photography Clara Mendez emphasized natural light, shadow interplay, and long tracking shots to convey a slow-burning visual unease. The series was shot using Arri Alexa LF cameras and vintage Leica lenses to produce a cinematic texture reminiscent of early 1990s film.

While most effects were practical—including cult iconography, decayed structures, and religious relics—the series used minimal CGI to enhance atmospheric elements like sandstorms and hallucinations. Production was briefly delayed in March 2024 due to high winds impacting the desert set, but no major disruptions occurred. Safety procedures for stunts and pyrotechnic rituals were closely coordinated under union guidelines, especially during fire-based sequences involving multiple actors.

Release

Twelve Hands: Sanctum is scheduled for release on Netflix in October 2025. The season will consist of eight episodes released simultaneously, following Netflix’s standard binge-release model. Promotional campaigns began in mid-2025, highlighting the season’s psychological horror themes and cult investigation angle. Netflix has not yet confirmed if future seasons are in development, though the anthology format allows for immediate expansion if the series performs well.