The final reckoning is coming in Servant season 4. The next chapter of the Apple TV+ series will find the Turner family story coming to a shocking close as Leanne's war with the Church of Lesser Saints intensifies and Sean and Dorothy begin to learn of her darker nature.
Nell Tiger Free returns to lead the cast for Servant season 4 alongside Toby Kebbell, Lauren Ambrose, and Rupert Grint. Once again shepherded by M. Night Shyamalan, the final season of the hit Apple TV+ psychological thriller starts off with a bang and keeps audiences on the edge of their seats through to the end.
In anticipation of the show's final return, Screen Rant spoke exclusively with executive producer M. Night Shyamalan to discuss Servant season 4, getting to close the book on the series, and the intense premiere episode.
M. Night Shyamalan on Servant Season 4
Screen Rant: I'm very happy to talk with you for one final go of Servant. It's great that you're getting to close out this book on your own terms. What is that like for you coming to the end of this road?
M. Night Shyamalan: Yeah, the thing you just mentioned is something that's not a small thing. I haven't quite finished the last episodes, putting in the music, sound effects and all that stuff. But as I'm getting to my last things, I counted out last night how many hours I have left working on Servant, and it's not many hours left. Then I went, "God!"
There was no guarantee that we were gonna get to finish this, there was no guarantee that we would make it there practically, that Apple would want us, that the audience would want us... We were one of those rare shows that got to make the show on our own terms, be growing in popularity throughout all of the seasons, and finish the story. So, that's the catch about making long-form storytelling is you may not get to finish the story. If it's not an episodic show, that's a real danger. And now that it's over, and we got to do it, I'm so grateful.
I especially love how season 4 just kicks off right away with the action as Leanne is coming under attack. Was that always the thought process when putting season 4 together?
M. Night Shyamalan: During the pandemic, I put together 22, 23, 24 episodes and ideas. "Could we do an episode about this? Could it be structured like this?" The first episode of the final season, I was like, "Oh, wow, we're gonna do an episode all inside of a car outside the brownstone. That should be the first episode of the final season." Wwe were like, "Hey, guys, we're in it, we're full-tilt boogie now into the final battle."
What were some of the biggest challenges putting together that episode where you are primarily filming in a car?
M. Night Shyamalan: If I had the time, I would have directed that episode. I love the challenge of the confinement, the extreme confinement and the paranoia and the suspense that comes. Dylan, who ended up directing, he's such a physical director, and it is a super challenging episode, because it's epic, there's a lot going on there.
It's our one of our biggest episodes, so it took a lot of choreography to get it right on both, you know, we're shooting in Philadelphia and the middle of the street, shutting down the street, and doing all this stuff, and all of these events that are happening, it's fun to think of how do you do an epic story, but through a straw? It's actually like you're looking at it through a small porthole, and I love that feeling, growing up seeing movies that have done that, whether it's Night of the Living Dead, or The Exorcist, where giant events are happening through that, as you can tell, I love that approach.
About Servant Season 4
Following the suspenseful season three finale, season four will bring the final chapter of the Turner story to an epic and emotional conclusion. Leanne’s war with the Church of Lesser Saints heightens, threatening Spruce Street, the city of Philadelphia, and beyond.
Meanwhile, the shattered Turner family must not only confront the increasing threat of Leanne, but the certain reality that Dorothy is waking up. As the Turner family brownstone continues to crumble, questions are finally answered: who is Leanne Grayson, and who is the child in their home?
Check back soon for our other Servant season 4 interview with the cast as well.
Servant season 4 begins streaming on January 13.