Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix is finalizing a deal with Gaumont International Television for a 13-episode series order to Hemlock Grove, an hourlong thriller/horror series executive produced and directed by Eli Roth. This marks the first foray into television for top horror feature writer-director-producer Roth, creator of the Hostel franchise. Hemlock Grove is based on Brian McGreevy’s upcoming gothic horror novel of the same name, which will be released by Farrar, Straus and Giroux on March 27. Set against the backdrop of our darkest myths, adolescent deceptions, ravenous relationships and rumors of a werewolf, the series re-imagines everything it means to be a monster as reflected in the struggle to be human. McGreevy will help adapt his book, co-writing the script with his writing partner Lee Shipman. The feature writing duo, which has made multiple appearances on Hollywood’s Black List of hot screenplays, is currently working on a reimagining of Bram Stoker’s Dracula for Warner Bros, Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Mad Hatter Entertainment. Mad Hatter’s Michael Connolly will serve as a co-executive producer on Hemlock Grove. Eric Newman of Strike Entertainment, who worked with Roth on The Last Exorcism and the upcoming The Man With The Iron Fists, which Roth co-wrote and is producing with Newman, will executive produce Hemlock Grove along with with Roth, McGreevy and Shipman.

This marks Netflix’s third original series pickup following deals for the David Fincher/Kevin Spacey drama House Of Cards, Jenji Kohan comedy Orange Is The New Black and a new season of Arrested Development. For Gaumont International TV, which was launched only three months ago with former NBC head of drama Katie O’Connell at the helm, this is the second big sale, following a 13-episode commitment from NBC earlier this month for Hannibal, a drama based on the iconic character Hannibal Lecter that is written and executive produced by Bryan Fuller and executive produced by Martha De Laurentiis. Additionally, the L.A.-based indie company, the U.S. arm of French film studio Gaumont, has in the works Madame Tussaud, a six-hour miniseries written by The Tudors creator Michael Hirst based on the book by Michelle Moran. Shipman and McGreevy’s other feature projects in the hopper include King Arthur epic Pendragon for New Regency and Zorro Reborn for Fox, which are now casting. Hemlock Grove was packaged by CAA. Netflix’s stock has been rising today amid speculation that it may be acquired by Verizon.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.