Oscar nominee Keira Knightley stars in The Woman in Cabin 10, Simon Stone’s new adaptation of Ruth Ware’s bestselling novel. The trailer, which dropped on Aug. 26, teases Knightley as Lo, a travel journalist who witnesses a passenger being thrown overboard a luxury yacht in the middle of the night. The other ship passengers insist that it never happened, but Lo is determined to uncover the truth, even if it means putting herself in danger.
Director Stone told PEOPLE that he wanted Knightley to bring something different to the role, making Lo “slightly unpredictable” compared to how female characters are usually portrayed. He also praised Knightley’s performance in an interview with Tudum, calling it “extraordinary.” Will Lo crack the mystery, or will the other passengers silence her before she gets too close? You can catch all the suspense when The Woman in Cabin 10 drops on Netflix Oct. 10.
A Modern Take on Ruth Ware’s Bestseller
Ruth Ware’s 2016 novel became a runaway hit, praised for its blend of psychological suspense and locked-room mystery vibes. Fans of Agatha Christie quickly embraced Ware’s knack for weaving paranoia, unreliable narrators, and chilling settings into page-turning thrillers. Adapting her work for the screen is no easy feat, but Stone—who previously directed The Daughter and episodes of The New Legends of Monkey—says he was eager to capture both the claustrophobia of a luxury cruise and the unsettling ambiguity of Lo’s perspective.
By casting Knightley, Stone signals that his version of Cabin 10 will lean heavily into character study. Lo is not just a witness to possible murder; she’s a woman whose credibility is constantly questioned, making the audience second-guess her sanity at every turn.
A Star-Studded Ensemble Cast
The suspense isn’t limited to Knightley’s performance. The film assembles a powerhouse cast of actors who each bring a potential layer of mystery to the story. Guy Pearce (Memento), David Ajala (Star Trek: Discovery), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Loki), Kaya Scodelario (Crawl), David Morrissey (The Walking Dead), and Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) all play fellow passengers or crew members.
Their roles remain largely under wraps, but if the book is any indication, each character may have secrets of their own. The yacht setting means everyone is a suspect—and everyone has something to lose if Lo digs too deep. Expect tense confrontations, shifting alliances, and the kind of red herrings that make Ware’s mysteries so addictive.
Netflix’s Growing Appetite for Literary Thrillers
Netflix has built a reputation for adapting buzzy novels into binge-worthy films and series. From Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl (produced outside Netflix but often compared) to Luckiest Girl Alive starring Mila Kunis, viewers have shown they’re hungry for dark, twist-filled stories led by complex women.
The Woman in Cabin 10 arrives at a time when streaming audiences are craving escapist yet cerebral entertainment—something to watch late at night that sparks water-cooler debates the next morning. If the trailer’s ominous shots of stormy seas and shadowy corridors are any clue, Netflix is banking on another hit in the psychological thriller space.
When and Where to Watch
Mark your calendars: The Woman in Cabin 10 premieres Oct. 10 exclusively on Netflix. With its combination of a bestselling source material, a director eager to shake up the genre, and a cast stacked with award-winning talent, the film is poised to be one of fall’s most talked-about releases.
So, will Lo solve the mystery of the missing passenger—or will the waves swallow the truth forever? Either way, audiences are in for a gripping ride.
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