# The Off Weeks
**The Off Weeks** is an American eight-episode limited drama series ordered by Apple TV+ on September 17, 2025, starring and executive produced by [Ben Stiller](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-stiller) and [Jessica Chastain](https://www.edgepedia.org/jessica-chastain), directed by [Michael Showalter](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-showalter), and showrun by Alissa Nutting.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/09/apple-tv-lands-the-off-weeks-new-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain/) The story follows a divorced writing professor who shares custody of his children on alternating weeks and, in the weeks without them, enters a dangerous romance with a mysterious woman.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/09/apple-tv-lands-the-off-weeks-new-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Eight-episode limited series on Apple TV+[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/09/apple-tv-lands-the-off-weeks-new-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain/) |
| Order date | September 17, 2025[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/09/apple-tv-lands-the-off-weeks-new-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain/) |
| Stars | Ben Stiller as Gus Adler; Jessica Chastain as Stella West[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/09/apple-tv-lands-the-off-weeks-new-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain/) • [2](https://www.myseries.tv/news/casting-news/17992-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain-cast-in-new-apple-series-the-off-weeks/) |
| Creative leads | Director Michael Showalter; showrunner Alissa Nutting[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/09/apple-tv-lands-the-off-weeks-new-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain/) |
| Production | Apple Studios and wiip, with Red Hour, Freckle Films, Semi-Formal Productions, and Artists First[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/09/apple-tv-lands-the-off-weeks-new-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain/) |
| Filming | Scheduled to shoot in January 2026 in New York, NY and Jersey City, NJ; in post-production as of October 4, 2026[3](https://www.productionlist.com/production/the-off-weeks) |
| Release | No premiere date announced as of January 2026[4](https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/26/apple-tv-adds-richard-gere-to-upcoming-limited-series-with-jessica-chastain-and-ben-stiller/) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
The series centers on Gus Adler, a writing professor whose divorce throws his life into chaos. During his "on weeks," when he has custody of his children, he struggles to hold things together as a parent. During his "off weeks," he falls dangerously in love with Stella West, a mysterious woman whose arrival puts his on-week duties and off-week ambitions on what Apple's announcement calls a fatal collision course.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/09/apple-tv-lands-the-off-weeks-new-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain/) IMDb classifies the show as a drama, romance, and thriller.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt43035523/)
## Cast
Ben Stiller plays Gus Adler and Jessica Chastain plays Stella West.[2](https://www.myseries.tv/news/casting-news/17992-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain-cast-in-new-apple-series-the-off-weeks/) The supporting cast grew through early 2026: [Arian Moayed](https://www.edgepedia.org/arian-moayed), known for *Succession*, and [Annaleigh Ashford](https://www.edgepedia.org/annaleigh-ashford), a Tony Award winner for *Kinky Boots*, were confirmed in January 2026, with Ashford reported as a series regular playing Jade.[4](https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/26/apple-tv-adds-richard-gere-to-upcoming-limited-series-with-jessica-chastain-and-ben-stiller/) • [6](https://us.auditioncentre.com/casting-calls/annaleigh-ashford-joins-ben-stiller/) [Richard Gere](https://www.edgepedia.org/richard-gere) joined later that month as a character named Jonathan.[4](https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/26/apple-tv-adds-richard-gere-to-upcoming-limited-series-with-jessica-chastain-and-ben-stiller/) Stephanie Hsu is also listed among the cast.[3](https://www.productionlist.com/production/the-off-weeks) Stiller and Chastain had previously worked together voicing Alex and Gia in *Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted*.[2](https://www.myseries.tv/news/casting-news/17992-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain-cast-in-new-apple-series-the-off-weeks/)
## Production
The series is produced for Apple TV+ by the independent studio wiip and hails from Apple Studios. Alissa Nutting serves as showrunner and an executive producer; for Red Hour, Stiller produces in that capacity with John Lesher; Chastain shares producing duties with Kelly Carmichael at Freckle Films; Showalter, who created the project with Semi-Formal Productions, also produces with Jordana Mollick; at wiip, Paul Lee and Gabriel Fisher fill the same role; Artists First's producers are Peter Principato, Allen Fischer, and Brian Steinberg; and Dean Bakopoulos, who worked with Nutting on *Made for Love*, is an executive producer as well.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/09/apple-tv-lands-the-off-weeks-new-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain/)
Production listings scheduled the shoot for January 2026 in New York, NY and Jersey City, NJ, and reported the series in post-production as of October 4, 2026.[3](https://www.productionlist.com/production/the-off-weeks) Apple's announcement gave no premiere date, release schedule, or episode titles, and as of January 2026 the streamer had not shared a release window.[4](https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/26/apple-tv-adds-richard-gere-to-upcoming-limited-series-with-jessica-chastain-and-ben-stiller/)
## Context at Apple TV+
The project extends Stiller's relationship with Apple TV+, following *Severance*, which he directed across its first two seasons and for which he remains a hands-on executive producer for season three, and the documentary *Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost* about his parents.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/09/apple-tv-lands-the-off-weeks-new-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain/) • [7](https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/17/ben-stiller-apple-tv-star-new-series/) *The Off Weeks* is a rare acting lead for Stiller on television; 9to5Mac reported that when Apple ordered *Severance* in 2019 there were early conversations about Stiller taking an acting role, but he declined and the part of Mark S. went to Adam Scott.[7](https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/17/ben-stiller-apple-tv-star-new-series/)
For Chastain, the series was announced as her second Apple TV+ project after the thriller *The Savant*, in which she also stars and executive produces.[1](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/09/apple-tv-lands-the-off-weeks-new-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain/) Showalter previously directed Chastain to her Academy Award for *The Eyes of Tammy Faye*, and his credits include *The Idea of You* and *The Dropout*; Nutting created *Made for Love* and *Teenage Euthanasia*.[8](https://www.thewrap.com/ben-stiller-jessica-chastain-the-off-weeks-apple-tv/)
## References
1. [Apple TV+ lands "The Off Weeks," new drama starring and executive produced by Ben Stiller and Jessica Chastain, Apple TV Press (September 17, 2025)](https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/09/apple-tv-lands-the-off-weeks-new-drama-starring-and-executive-produced-by-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain/)
2. [Ben Stiller and Jessica Chastain cast in new Apple series The Off Weeks, MySeries.tv](https://www.myseries.tv/news/casting-news/17992-ben-stiller-and-jessica-chastain-cast-in-new-apple-series-the-off-weeks/)
3. [The Off Weeks, Production List](https://www.productionlist.com/production/the-off-weeks)
4. [Apple TV adds Richard Gere to upcoming limited series with Jessica Chastain and Ben Stiller, 9to5Mac (January 26, 2026)](https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/26/apple-tv-adds-richard-gere-to-upcoming-limited-series-with-jessica-chastain-and-ben-stiller/)
5. [Off Weeks (TV Mini Series), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt43035523/)
6. [Annaleigh Ashford Joins Ben Stiller & Jessica Chastain in Apple TV+'s 'The Off Weeks' Limited Series, Audition Centre](https://us.auditioncentre.com/casting-calls/annaleigh-ashford-joins-ben-stiller/)
7. [Ben Stiller to star in new Apple TV+ limited series, after stepping back from Severance directing role, 9to5Mac (September 17, 2025)](https://9to5mac.com/2025/09/17/ben-stiller-apple-tv-star-new-series/)
8. [Ben Stiller, Jessica Chastain to Star in Apple TV+ Thriller Series 'The Off Weeks', TheWrap (September 17, 2025)](https://www.thewrap.com/ben-stiller-jessica-chastain-the-off-weeks-apple-tv/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Drama and prestige series (individual series) › Family and relationship drama › Family and domestic drama › Romance and couple dramas*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license