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‘Scanners’ TV Series Adaptation in Development at HBO

Based on David Cronenberg’s infamous body horror film, the show will follow two women who must learn to work together to topple a vast conspiracy determined to bring them to heel.

We’re having some major déjà vu! While a TV series adaptation of David Cronenberg’s infamous body horror film Scanners, by Dimension Films, was originally announced in 2011, it was never released. Now, a series is once again in development, this time at HBO. Amazon is also developing another of Cronenberg’s films, Dead Ringers, with Rachel Weisz playing a pair of twins.

The official series description states it is “set in the mind-bending world of David Cronenberg’s seminal film. Pursued by relentless agents with unimaginable powers, two women living on the fringes of modern society must learn to work together to topple a vast conspiracy determined to bring them to heel.”

Scanners, which originally premiered in 1981, followed a man with psychic powers who was tasked with finding an equally powerful, yet evil, psychic. The film starred Michael Ironside, Stephen Lack, Jennifer O’Neill, and Patrick McGoohan, and quickly gained cult status. Scanners spawned four sequel films, although Cronenberg was not involved after the original was released.

William Bridges (Black Mirror, Stranger Things) will serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner for the upcoming horror series. Yann Demange (’71, Lovecraft Country) will direct and executive produce for Wayward Films alongside Cronenberg. Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer will executive produce on behalf of Media Res Studio, while Meredith Duff and Sarah Sullivan of Wayward Films will executive produce with René Malo and Fanny-Laure Malo, Pierre David, Clark Peterson, and Aaron Gilbert.

Scanners will be co-produced in collaboration between HBO, Media Res Studio, and Wayward Films. Media Res first announced their involvement with the project in 2017. No word yet on who will handle the series’ VFX.

Laurén Alexa's picture

Cybersecurity specialist by day, investigative journalist by night.