Crave will debut the supernatural mystery series Yaga this October, offering a modern twist on the legendary Slavic witch, Baba Yaga. The production follows private investigator Rapp as he searches for a missing fishery heir amidst a backdrop of folklore and mystery.
From a three-person stage play to a Crave original
The upcoming series Yaga represents a significant creative expansion for writer Kat Sandler. According to the report, the project originated as a compact, three-person stage play before Sandler reimagined the concept for a television audience. Sandler has taken on the dual roles of showrunner and executive producer to manage this transition from the stage to the screen .
This move follows a growing industry trend where intimate, character-driven stage plays are adapted into larger-scale streaming series to provide more depth to established narratives. Sandler has noted that the television format provides the necessary room to introduce new elements and expand upon the original source material in ways a stage production could not. This evolution allows the series to build a more complex world around the central myth of Baba Yaga.
Noah Reid and Carrie-Anne Moss lead the search for Henry Park
The narrative engine of Yaga is a mystery involving the disappearance of Henry Park, the heir to a powerful fishery. Noah Reid stars as Rapp, a private investigator tasked with uncovering the truth behind the disappearance. The plot introduces tension through the character of a local detective, played by Clark Backo, who finds himself in direct conflict with Rapp's investigative methods.
Adding weight to the supernatural elements is Carrie-Anne Moss, who portrays a charismatic university professor. As reported by the source, the series uses these character dynamics to anchor the more fantastical aspects of the Slavic folklore. The interplay between the investigative procedural elements and the mythical undertones serves as the foundation for the show's genre-bending approach.
The San Diego Comic-Con trailer's nod to Baba Yaga's roots
A first look at the series was recently provided via a trailer released during a San Diego Comic-Con panel. The footage features Carrie-Anne Moss providing a narration that explores the various global iterations of the Baba Yaga myth. The trailer touches on classic imagery, such as a witch residing in a hut that moves on chicken feet, as well as her roles as a healer, an enchantress, and a wise woman.
The visual presentation concludes with a high-energy montage and a climactic moment where the character Olena Yaha invokes the name "Baba Yaga." This stylistic choice suggests that while the setting is modern,the ancient, unsettling essence of the folklore will remain a primary driver of the show's atmosphere.
What specific details are missing from the October rollout?
While Crave has confirmed an October release window , the production has yet to announce a specific calendar date for the premiere. Furthermore, the available information does not clarify how much of the "modern retelling" will lean into horror versus traditional mystery. While the trailer provides a glimpse of the world, the specific connection between the fishery disappearance and the supernatural elements of Baba Yaga remains unverified by the current promotional material.
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