HBO Developing ‘Scanners’ Series With David Cronenberg Exec Producing
HBO has put into development a series based on David Cronenberg’s classic film ‘Scanners’ it has been revealed.
For those of you unfamiliar with the original 1981 movie, the sci-fi/horror is set in a world where a small number of men and women, known as “Scanners”, are born with incredible telepathic and telekinetic powers. Whilst some use this power safely, it can also be used to cause damage, pain and even death. We follow Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack), a vagrant “derelict” who accidentally causes a seizure using his telepathy. He’s captured by security company ConSec, who recruit Vale to infiltrate an underground group of rogue Scanners, led by Darryl Revok (Micheal Ironside), who plan to create a race that will rule the world.
The potential new series is described as a visceral thriller set in the mind-bending world of David Cronenberg’s seminal film. Pursued by relentless agents with unimaginable powers, two women living on the fringes of modern society must learn to work together to topple a vast conspiracy determined to bring them to heel.
William Bridges is set as writer and showrunner on the series. His previous work includes the critically acclaimed ‘Black Mirror‘ episode “USS Callister”, along with episodes of ‘Stranger Things‘, and creating the AMC anthology series ‘Soulmates‘. Yann Demange (‘Top Boy’, ‘Lovecraft Country’, ‘Secret Diary of a Call Girl’) is set to direct. The potential series is a co-production between HBO, Media Res Studio, and Wayward Films.
Bridges and Demange exec produce alongside original film writer/director David Cronenberg. They are joined by Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer (Media Res Studio), Meredith Duff and Sarah Sullivan (Wayward Films), René Malo, Fanny-Laure Malo, Pierre David, Clark Peterson, and Aaron Gilbert.
The original film spawned two sequel movies released in 1991 and 1992, along with the spin-offs ‘Scanner Cop’ released in 1994, and ‘Scanners: The Showdown’ in 1995. In 2007 a film remake was announced with ‘Saw’ franchise director Darren Lynn Bousman at the helm, but that stalled. There was also an attempt at a series remake in 2011, and again in 2017 neither of which landed.
This latest attempt at a ‘Scanners’ tv series is still “in development” so may not go to series, but we’ll let you know if we hear more.
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