A new HBO show inspired by the classic horror movie The Birds is in the works, with a big name signed on to star in it – here is all we know.
The Birds is a classic horror movie, and now a new generation will get to be scored by it with a reimagining coming to HBO soon, the channel has confirmed.
Deadline has revealed that the show has been snapped up by HBO for development, with a couple of well-known producers on board and a major actress is also signed on to star in it.
Here is all we know about HBO show The Birds
What is The Birds based on?
The new version of The Birds is said to be a present-day reimagining of the classic 1963 horror movie by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Tippi Hedren.
The movie itself was based on a novella by Daphne du Maurier of the same name, which focused on a series of violent – but unexplained attacks by groups of birds on people in a town in California. Hitchcock’s version added new characters, but kept the horror element of the violent bird attacks, which follow several characters around, noatably a wealthy San Fransisco socialite.
The Birds has become a classic and influenced other filmmakers such as John Carpenter and Guillermo del Toro.
What is the plot of The Birds?
This new version of The Birds will be significantly different to the movie – well, with eight episodes to fill, it will have to expand on a two-hour movie.
This time round, a woman, Myra Massey, who returns to her hometown in Alaska with her daughter following a bitter custody battle with her ex-husband. As well as returning home, she is also investigating the suspicious disappearance (aren’t they all?) of a childhood friend.
As Myra’s investigations bring her closer to the truth, the threats to her and her daughter increase – including deadly bird attacks that seem to be tied to the crime.
Who is developing the show?
Tom Spezialy is writing the pilot episode and executive producing. He has had previous success on HBO with shows such as Watchmen – which won an Emmy – and The Leftovers. He also worked on the upcoming Blade runner 2099 show – another spinoff from a classic movie – for Prime Video, which will be out in the coming months.
Another executive producer is David Heyman, who is performing a similar role on the new Harry Potter series.
Who will be starring in The Birds?
Sarah Snook has been confirmed as starring as Myra. Sarah is best-known for her Emmy-winning performance as Shiv Roy in Succession and starring more recently in All Her Fault. Sarah is also executive producing the show.
As yet, other cast members have not been announced, but details will be forthcoming as we get closer to production beginning.
Is the first attempted remake of The Birds?
Yes and no. There have been a couple of attempts to remake The Birds in the past 20 years, but neither project made it to fruition. The first, in 2007, was a proposed movie with Naomi Watts in the lead role and Martin Campbell directing. Then, in 2017, it was announced by the BBC that a miniseries was planned but that also didn’t move forward. Hopefully third time is the charm for the HBO project.
When can we see The Birds?
No broadcast date has yet been announced for The Birds by HBO. Given the early stage of development at which the show is at, production will begin sometime next year and a release date of sometime in 2028 looks likely.
