Mystery, perception, fear, and identity collide in ‘Yaga,’ the highly–anticipated horror television series from Crave and AMC+. Its atmospheric world balances dark humor with unsettling themes, creating plenty of intrigue without giving away its secrets.

For actor Sam Krochmal, the show offers an exciting opportunity to bring his natural comedic instincts into darker dramatic territory. As Billy, a rookie police officer in over his head, the performer brings warmth and levity while revealing another dimension of his evolving career. With ‘Yaga,’ he isn’t simply stepping into a new role, but showing audiences just how much more he has to offer.

‘Yaga’ is adapted from the hit 2019stage play of the same name by writer and showrunner Kat Sandler. Rachel Talalay and David Frazee directed the series. Krochmal stars on the drama alongside Carrie-Anne Moss, Clark Backo, Hudson Williams and Noah Reid.

In ‘Yaga,’ Carson (Backo) is a local detective, at once weary and protective of the small coastal town she serves and its inhabitants. After the disappearance of commercial fishery heir and local party boy Henry Park (William), Carson begrudgingly partners up with Rapp (Reid), a private investigator hired by the Park family. Rapp arrives on the scene with a bemused swagger and a personal connection to the case that immediately raises Carson’s hackles.

Their initial lines of questioning lead them to an enigmatic and seductive university professor, Catherine (Moss). In the process, it becomes clear that it’s going to require all hands on deck to uncover the truth hidden underneath these shrouds of secrecy.

The show will have its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in the Primetime category on Thursday, September 17 at 9pm ET at the TIFF Lightbox. After its festival premiere, the series will be released next month.

Inspired by the Baba Yaga legend, the genre-bending project looks beyond the familiar image of a wicked woman. It also questions who gets labeled as dangerous by society and why. At its center is a story that invites audiences to reconsider assumptions about who deserves to be feared. For Krochmal, that thoughtful balance became an especially exciting opportunity to stretch his creative range.

The actor plays Billy, a rookie police officer navigating situations far beyond his usual experience. Rather than treating the character as straightforward comic relief, Krochmal found humanity beneath the humor. That distinction became one of the most rewarding aspects of joining the ambitious Canadian production.

When he first received the script first late last year, Krochmal didn’t know the full scope of the role. What immediately connected him to Billy, however, was a surprisingly personal recognition. The actor remembers feeling that he was almost playing himself during his audition. For an actor, that kind of immediate connection can feel like an extraordinary luxury.

The instinct proved remarkably accurate when he later spoke with Sandler. The showrunner told him the creative team watched his audition and immediately saw Billy. That mutual recognition gave the casting process an especially satisfying sense of full-circle validation.

For Krochmal, the experience also represented another step in an increasingly versatile career. His background has often placed him in comedy, where timing, energy and personality are essential tools. Yet ‘Yaga’ offered an opportunity to explore something more layered within that familiar territory.\

Billy could bring levity without becoming the traditional sidekick who exists solely for laughs. That challenge appealed strongly to Krochmal as an actor. He wanted the character’s humor to emerge naturally from the circumstances surrounding him.

Instead of forcing jokes into serious moments, the actor allowed the story’s stakes to create the comedy. That approach gave Billy room to remain sincere, earnest, and occasionally overwhelmed. It also allowed Krochmal to explore a different side of his performance instincts.\

The actor describes himself as someone who has frequently worked in comedic roles. Those experiences have clearly given him a strong foundation in character-driven humor.

With ‘Yaga,’ however, he found an opportunity to place those instincts inside darker dramatic territory. That tonal flexibility is one of the series’ defining attractions.

The series moves between mystery, thriller, horror and comedy. The atmosphere often shifts quickly, creating a world where certainty never feels completely secure.

For an actor, that unpredictability can provide an unusually rich work environment. Krochmal embraced that challenge by trusting the material and resisting the temptation to overplay Billy’s humor.

The performer wanted the character to feel like a real person facing increasingly unusual circumstances. That grounded approach ultimately made the comedic moments more meaningful.

Krochmal emphasizes how Billy takes everything, especially himself, seriously so that he isn’t perceived to be a joke. Much of the actor’s confidence to play the character that way came from working with Sandler, whose creative vision impressed him immediately.

The performer described the creator as a powerhouse with an exceptionally clear voice. Her background in playwriting also brought a particular strength to the script. Krochmal found the writing detailed enough to provide actors with an expansive creative playground.

Just as importantly, the performer found the scribe highly collaborative. She maintained a clear vision while allowing performers room to explore beyond the page.

That balance helped create what Krochmal describes as a safe and supportive working environment. It also encouraged spontaneous discoveries that eventually became part of the finished series.

For an actor, those moments can be among the most memorable parts of production. Krochmal recalled having opportunities to discover small details that weren’t present in the original script.

Seeing some of those discoveries ultimately make it onscreen felt particularly rewarding for Krochmal. It was another indication that the production valued the contributions of its performers.

The same spirit extended to Krochmal’s work with the series’ directors. He had the opportunity to work with Talalay and Frazee, both of whom brought substantial experience to the screen adaptation.

What stood out was their ability to communicate clearly in the language of performance.\

 Krochmal appreciated directors who could connect technical requirements with emotional objectives.

That collaborative environment became especially meaningful while working alongside such accomplished Canadian performers as Reid, Backo, and Moss. For Krochmal, sharing a set with performers of that caliber could occasionally feel surreal. He noted there were moments when he had to simply enjoy the experience.

That feeling speaks to how far his own career has progressed. Rather than being intimidated by the opportunity, Krochmal found support from the creative team. Sandler, Talalay and Frazee helped create an atmosphere where he could settle into the work. That freedom allowed him to focus less on the significance of the moment and more on the performance itself.

As ‘Yaga’ prepares to make its world premiere at TIFF, Krochmal finds himself at an exciting career crossroads. The actor who built much of his reputation through comedy is now embracing increasingly layered dramatic opportunities. Billy allows him to retain his natural warmth while exploring uncertainty, tension and emotional stakes. That combination makes the role feel like a true natural evolution.

Photographer: Kristine Cofsky