‘Poltergeist’ TV Series in Early Development at Amazon MGM Studios (EXCLUSIVE)
A series version of the legendary horror film “Poltergeist” is currently in early development at Amazon MGM Studios. diversity learned exclusively.
There is currently no author assigned to the project. Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey will serve as executive producers on behalf of Amblin Television. Amblin produced the original 1982 film, with Steven Spielberg devising the story, co-writing the screenplay and producing. There are currently no plot details to reveal, other than that the show will be set in the world of the film.
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“Poltergeist” centers on the Freeling family, who move into a new home only to discover that it is haunted by a horde of ghosts. After the ghosts kidnap their young daughter, the Freelings work with a parapsychologist and a spiritual medium to free their daughter and escape the ghosts.
The original film proved to be a huge success upon release. With a reported budget of $10.7 million, it grossed around $121 million worldwide. It was also nominated for three Academy Awards – Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Original Score.
Two sequels followed in 1986 and 1988. Zelda Rubinstein, who played middle Tangina Barrons, and Heather O’Rourke, who played Carol Anne Freeling, were the only cast members to appear in all three films. A reboot of the original film was released in 2015.
If the Amazon MGM Studios project moves forward, it would be the second television show set in the “Poltergeist” world. The series “Poltergeist: The Legacy” aired for three seasons on Showtime before airing a fourth and final season on the Sci-Fi Channel in 1999. The series followed a worldwide group called The Legacy who protected humanity from supernatural dangers.
This is also Amazon’s latest attempt to adapt the well-known MGM IP since taking over the venerable studio. The online retail giant’s streaming arm is already working on new projects based on titles like “Robocop,” “Legal Blonde,” “Barbershop” and more. diversity It was recently exclusively reported that a series set in the world of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was in the studio has found its showrunnerwhile a series is based on the book “Glossy” and the company Glossier also in work among several other projects.
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