‘Before’ Trailer: Billy Crystal Is Haunted by His Dead Wife in a Supernatural Thriller

Judith Light, Rosie Perez, and Maria Dizzia star in the Apple TV+ limited series, which is executive produced by "Killers Of The Flower Moon" and "Dune" co-writer Eric Roth.

Iconic comedian Billy Crystal is making his debut in the spooky sphere with supernatural limited series “Before.”

Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Crystal executive produces and leads the upcoming Apple TV+ show that centers on a grieving child psychiatrist who becomes haunted by a new patient. The psychological thriller series is billed as a “supernatural mystery” and will unravel its multi-layered storyline across ten episodes.  

The official synopsis reads: “‘Before’ stars Crystal as Eli, a child psychiatrist who, after recently losing his wife, Lynn (Judith Light), encounters a troubled young boy, Noah (Jacobi Jupe), who seems to have a haunting connection to Eli’s past. As Eli attempts to help Noah, their mysterious bond deepens.”

Rosie Perez, Maria Dizzia, and Ava Lalezarzadeh also star.

Sarah Thorp created the Paramount Television Studios series. Thorp serves as showrunner, writer, and executive producer, along with Crystal and “Killers Of The Flower Moon” and “Dune” co-writer Eric Roth. Adam Bernstein directs the pilot and also produces with fellow director Jet Wilkinson.

Crystal told The Hollywood Reporter that he “never thought” he would be acting in “Before” after having developed the series as an executive producer.

“It’s dark and it’s strange and it’s wonderful,” he said of the series. “At this point in my career, to be able to grow and stretch and do something new, is very exciting for me.”

And Crystal has been continuing his career pivots for years: He returned to directing with 2021 indie dramedy “Here Today” after previously helming HBO film “61*” in 2001, along with “Mr. Saturday Night” in 1992 and the “Forget Paris” in 1995.

“I didn’t find anything that I connected with enough to want to give so much to it and spend a year, year-and-a-half, sometimes two years on a project,” Crystal told IndieWire at the time when asked why he had a 20-year pause as a director. “And I was busy, back on Broadway twice and doing other things. There was nothing that really touched me after ’61*’ came out.”

“Before” premieres October 25 on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes, followed by new episodes every Friday through December 20. Check out the trailer below.