HBO has given a series order to Scanners based on the cult classic horror movie of the same name from David Cronenberg. The news comes courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter with the outlet stating that William Bridges (Black Mirror) is set to act as writer and showrunner for the HBO series. Yann Demange, who directed the pilot for HBO’s Lovecraft Country, is on board to direct. Both Bridges and Demange will executive produce the series.
The original film focused on a small group of people with powers ranging from psychic abilities, telepathy and telekinesis. These people were referred to as scanners. One faction of scanners, led by a power-mad man, aimed to take over the world while a private security firm recruited other scanners to try and stop him. It went on to become the first mainstream success for Cronenberg who has since gone on to build an impressive catalog throughout the years. Cronenberg will serve as an executive producer on the HBO series along with Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer of Media Res Studio and Meredith Duff and Sarah Sullivan of Wayward Films.
This take on Scanners is being described as a “visceral thriller set in the mind-bending world of Cronenberg’s film.” It’ll follow two women who find themselves living on the fringes of modern society as they are pursued by relentless agents with unimaginable powers and thus must learn to work together to topple a vast conspiracy determined to bring them to heel.
Outside of Black Mirror, Bridges has worked on the reboot of The Twilight Zone, Netflix’s mega-hit Stranger Things and he helped co-create the AMC series, Soulmates. While Demange has directed titles such as White Boy Rick starring Matthew McConaughey and ’71.
Source: THR.
