‘Rosemary’s Baby’ Miniseries In The Works For NBC With ‘American Horror Story’ Writer

Supernatural dramas are in! Following the success of “Dracula” and other horror-centric series like “The Walking Dead,” “True Blood” and “Bates Motel,” NBC has greenlit a four-hour miniseries adaptation of “Rosemary’s Baby.”

In a press release from the network, the screenplay for the 1967 best-selling novel by Ira Levin is being brought to life by “American Horror Story” writer James Wong and “Queen of the Damned” writer Scott Abbott. (Wong is responsible for the absolutely chilling season 3 episode of "American Horror Story: Coven," "The Replacements.") With Polish Oscar and Emmy Award nominee Agnieszka Holland (of "Europa Europa" fame) on deck to direct, “Rosemary’s Baby” will tell the story of a young married couple who move into a Paris apartment “that has a haunted past.” When the wife becomes pregnant she becomes paranoid, fearing that her husband and her neighbors “have ulterior motives when her child is born.”

While the book, set in New York, was already adapted by Roman Polanski in 1968, NBC aims to give it new light. “The story has been updated and moved to Paris,” Jennifer Salke, president of NBC Entertainment, explained in the press release. “But it’s faithful to the spirit of Ira Levin’s classic novel. This is a compelling tale wonderfully told.”

The original film adaptation of “Rosemary’s Baby” received a lot of hype in the late '60s thanks to the involvement of Roman Polanski’s future wife, Sharon Tate. The writer and director had hoped to cast her in the leading role, but producers instead cast Mia Farrow. But Tate appeared uncredited in the movie during a party scene. In 1969, Tate and her unborn baby were murdered by members of the Manson family.

“Rosemary’s Baby” is being produced by Lionsgate Television with executive producers Joshua Maurer (“Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret”), his wife Alix Witlin (“Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret”) and David Stern. Casting is reportedly beginning immediately with production aiming to begin in January in Paris.

A release date has not been announced for the four-hour miniseries.