A brand new original series based on the iconic Hellraiser horror franchise is in the works.
Rights holders and producers Lawrence Kuppin, David Salzman, and Eric Gardner are teaming with It, The Exorcist and Bates Motel producer Roy Lee and Ready Player One producer Dan Farah to bring the television series to life.
The production team is currently searching for a writer-showrunner and early indications indicate they have “several A-list names” circling the project.
The Hellraiser series has never been on television before, although the franchise has had a number of films based off Clive Barker’s 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart.
While they are still looking for a writer, the show is said to be based on “the elegantly Machiavellian antagonist Pinhead and the infamous Lament Configuration (the puzzle box which opens the portal to what appears to be Hell.)”
There is a cause for concern as the press release indicates the series “will incorporate the elements of classic Hellraiser mythology while delivering a modern re-imagining of the seminal brand for television.”
The new Hellraiser series hopes to capture the resurgence in general audience’s demand for everything horror from DC Universe’s Swamp Thing to AMC’s The Walking Dead, FX’s American Horror Story, and Netflix’s Stranger Things.
Gardner specifically points to this resurgence, “With the current proliferation of hit horror-themed series, we decided the time was finally at hand to take the Hellraiser TV rights off the shelf.” He added, “Now with the addition of Roy and Dan, we have assembled the quintessential Dream Team, or may I say Nightmare Team.”
Salzman touted the Hellraiser franchise and specifically Pinhead, “Hellraiser is an internationally recognizable brand with one of the most memorable uber-villains of all time and a built-in multi-generational fan base.”
A live-action “loyal, yet evolved reimagining” Hellraiser film was announced in May by Gary Barber the head of Spyglass Media Group. The film has The Dark Knight writer David Goyer currently attached to it.
It’s unclear if the Hellraiser live-action film and the TV series will be connected like the upcoming Dune film and the Dune TV series focusing on the Bene Gesserit.
Are you looking forward to a Hellraiser TV series? Are you cautious about the “modern re-imaginging” language?