Blumhouse Productions, the company that produced hits like Get Out and Whiplash, is developing a TV series called You Bury Me based on a script from Lexi Alexander. Scott Derrickson, the writer-director of Doctor Strange, will develop the project with her.
According to RapidTVNews, the series “takes place in Iraq, Syria and Turkey. It’s an epic love story set against the political turmoil of a region rarely, if ever, portrayed on screen from the point of view of a filmmaker with both western and Middle Eastern background.”
Alexander will serve as the writer for the series, with both her and Derrickson executive producing. “Scott and Lexi’s feature film sensibility is perfect for the scope of this torn-from-the-headlines saga,” said Marci Wiseman, co-president of Blumhouse Television, “which interweaves the complications of love against a story with dangerous and far-reaching political consequences. It’s exactly what audiences seeking a premium television experience are craving.”
“The ability to pair an industry veteran like Scott, with whom we have an established relationship, with a filmmaker like Lexi, provides us with a great opportunity to cultivate a new and compelling creative voice,” said Jeremy Gold, the other Blumhouse co-president.
This is definitely an interesting pickup for Blumhouse, which made its name with low-budget, successful horror films. A story set (at least in part) in a war-torn country like Syria likely won’t be as inexpensive as a film like Get Out, so this is somewhat out of their wheelhouse. But it’s an exciting project for them to take on, and it sounds like the sort of politically relevant and conversation-starting series they should be investing in as their profile rises.
Derrickson said that Blumhouse was the “perfect home” for the project. “They are risk takers with a passion for good story and have a long track record for helping creators bring their vision to both the big and small screen,” he said.
On Twitter, Alexander wrote, “They made GET OUT. As in four time Oscar nominee GET OUT. I felt like I won the lottery when they optioned the show.”
LOL…loving the solidarity…but you know, they made GET OUT. As in four time Oscar nominee GET OUT. I felt like I won the lottery when they optioned the show https://t.co/i3ZWL719fM
— Lexi Alexander (@Lexialex) February 3, 2018
We’ve previously highlighted Alexander’s important advocacy for women directors, especially in the superhero and action genres, as well as her voice for diversity in Hollywood. I’m excited to hear that we’ll get to see her voice as a writer in this series, especially when she’ll be working with a production company like Blumhouse and a collaborator like Derrickson.
What do you all think?
(Via Variety and RapidTVNews)
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