Netflix has secured another original series with Hemlock Grove, a thrilling tale of murder and mystery adapted by Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever), is set to star Famke Janssen (X-Men, Nip/Tuck) and Bill Skarsgard (Anna Karenina, Simon and the Oaks). The series is set to be available for Netflix members to watch instantly, beginning early in 2013.
Set in a ravaged Pennsylvania steel town, Hemlock Grove starts with the body of a young girl, mangled and murdered in the shadow of the former Godfrey steel mill. There are a multitude of suspects from an escapee from the White Tower, a biotech facility owned by the former steel magnates, to a 17-year-old Gypsy kid named Peter from the wrong side of the tracks, who tells his classmates he’s a werewolf.
Skarsgard will play Roman, the arrogant Godfrey scion, whose sister Shelley is disturbingly deformed and whose mother Olivia, played by Janssen, is an otherworldly beauty who controls Hemlock Grove. As the crime goes unsolved and outlandish rumors mount, Peter and Roman decide to find the killer themselves, confronting unspeakable truths about themselves and Hemlock Grove as the mystery unfolds.
“Eli Roth is a master of this genre and Brian McGreevy’s brilliant novel gives Roth a world where he can create his magic,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. “Hemlock Grove is a sly blend of J.D. Salinger and Mary Shelley and will appeal to a broad base of fans captivated by these rich characters and stunning visuals.”
According to the press release, Roth has been looking to get into serialized television. “Brian McGreevy’s novel blew me away, and the material lends itself perfectly to long format storytelling. Hemlock Grove is smart, dark, complex, and at times terrifying,” said Eli Roth. The 13 episode first season of Hemlock Grove is Roth’s first foray into serialized drama as a director and executive producer. Roth created the Hostel franchise, and is well known for his eye for horror.
More on this story as it progresses.
