Movies
TV: Writer Moves Into “666 Park Avenue” Occupied By Witches
Variety spoke with writer David Wilcox about adapting the book series “666 Park Avenue” into a primetime series, which landed on ABC’s fall schedule in the 10 p.m. Sunday timeslot.
For Wilcox, who previously wrote for “Law & Order,” ABC’s “Life on Mars” and Fox’s “Fringe,” this new series blends elements from his past efforts to make a supernatural soap with influences from the horror genre (think Rosemary’s Baby, The Omen, The Shining).
“The book is about witches on Park Avenue,” Wilcox says. “The TV show takes place on Park Avenue and that’s about it (for similarities).”
What it won’t have is a mythology as complicated as “Fringe.”
The concept that sold ABC on the “666 Park Avenue” pilot is it’s story of people who make Faustian bargains.
““The idea is that everyone has some sort of innate desire or ambition and when they move into 666 Park Avenue, the answer to their need, desire or ambition will be presented,” Wilcox says. “The show is about seduction and about wish fulfillment, but with the be-careful-what-you-wish-for dark side of that.”
Watch for the premiere this fall on ABC.
Hollywood is serious about landing the next Backrooms. Hot on the heels of a Siren Head feature announcement, Deadline reports that a new movie based on viral YouTube series The Mandela Catalogue is in development.
It also has some Hollywood heavy hitters behind it.
Amblin Entertainment’s Steven Spielberg, United Artists’ Scott Stuber (Frankenstein), and Amazon MGM Studios are set to produce, emerging victorious after a highly competitive 11-studio bidding war.
Launched in 2021, the YouTube series is set in the fictional Mandela County, Wisconsin which is “invaded by shape-shifting, nearly immortal creatures called Alternates. The Alternates are led by a false depiction of the Archangel Gabriel and their aim is to wipe out the human race by psychologically torturing them to the point of suicide. The Alternates are known for manipulating AV media, TVs, computers and GPS systems.”
The movie will be directed by the series’ creator, Alex Kister, based on a screenplay he adapted with Tyler Clifton.
The Mandela Catalogue has racked up an impressive 100 million views across its official episodes alone, solidifying it as one of the largest original analog horror franchises on YouTube.
Spielberg and Holly Bario are producing for Amblin Entertainment alongside Aaron B. Koontz for Paper Street Pictures and Stuber and Nick Nesbitt for United Artists. Kister and Clifton are also producing. Annie McCreery will oversee the project for United Artists. Maria Fortese will oversee for Amblin.
Get acquainted with The Mangela Catalogue below while we wait to learn more.