'Shutter Island' is reportedly being developed as an HBO TV series
'Shutter Island,' the 2010 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio that's based on the novel by Dennis Lehane, is the basis for a new series that's reportedly being developed by HBO and Paramount Television. 'Shutter Island' centered on a U.S. Marshal who investigated the disappearance of a resident at a hospital.
'Shutter Island,' the 2010 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio that's based on the novel by Dennis Lehane, is the basis for a new series that's reportedly being developed by HBO and Paramount Television. 'Shutter Island' centered on a U.S. Marshal who investigated the disappearance of a resident at a hospital.
HBO鈥檚 Martin Scorsese-produced period drama聽Boardwalk Empire聽series is about to embark upon its final season, but the network and legendary filmmaker have already begun developing multiple projects for the future. One such venture is a currently untitled聽1970s-set rock 'n' roll drama聽that Mick Jagger is also backing, while another is titled聽Ashecliffe, a series inspired by the novel-turned-film adaptation聽Shutter Island, which Scorsese directed.
Shutter Island, based on the novel by author/screenwriter Dennis Lehane, is a 1950s-set mystery/thriller that follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he investigates the mysterious disappearance of a resident at Boston鈥檚 Shutter Island Ashecliffe Hospital 鈥 an institution for the criminally insane.聽Deadline聽is reporting that the聽Ashecliffe聽series takes place well before Scorsese鈥檚 film and Lehane鈥檚 book, and explores聽鈥渢he secrets and misdeeds perpetrated by [the] founders鈥聽of the eponymous hospital.
By the sound of it,聽Ashecliffe聽won鈥檛 really be a聽prequel series that lays the groundwork for Mr. Daniels鈥 predicament in聽Shutter Island; not in the same way that聽Bates Motel聽elaborates upon the history of Norman Bates from聽Psycho, for example. Then again,聽the ending to聽Shutter Island聽suggests that there聽颈蝉苍鈥檛聽any elaborate back story to be revealed for聽Ashecliffe Hospital. Which is to say, much as聽Bates Motel聽uses its聽Psycho聽origins as a springboard for weaving a more complicated and intriguing mythology that most would鈥檝e imagined,聽Ashecliffe聽may聽wind up being only tangentially related to the plot and characters featured in聽Lehane鈥檚聽Shutter Island聽source material (as well as Scorsese鈥檚 film adaptation).
FX鈥檚聽Fargo聽dramatic anthology series (during its first season) found a way to connect to the Coen Brothers鈥 film that inspired it, yet also function very much as a standalone world and narrative.聽Ashecliffe聽might go even further in the same聽direction 鈥 avoiding just about any discernible immediate connection to the events that transpire in聽Shutter Island, but while still continuing to explore similar themes and issues raised by that narrative. (Hence, it wouldn鈥檛听箩耻蝉迟聽be a聽Shutter Island聽series in name only.)
Lehane will be responsible for expanding his聽Shutter Island聽mythology by scripting the聽础蝉丑别肠濒颈蹿蹿别听pilot, which Scorsese is lined up to direct. Paramount TV head Amy Powell is also behind this project, as is聽Shutter Island聽film producer Brad Fisher and DiCaprio鈥檚 production banner, Appian Way, among other executive producers. Scorsese, of course, also helmed the聽Boardwalk Empire pilot and is set to do likewise with the pilot for the aforementioned 鈥70s music drama. However, it sounds as though聽Ashecliffe聽颈蝉苍鈥檛 so far along in development to affect Scorsese鈥檚 commitment to begin filming聽Silence聽early next year for a late 2015 release.
Currently, Cinemax鈥檚聽The Knick聽is examining the gruesome side of physical medical treatments in the early 20th century. Perhaps聽Ashecliffe聽will end up making for a聽strong companion piece to that Steven Soderbergh program, and provide an equally adept (and unsettling)聽examination of psychological care and practices around the same period of time. First, though, we鈥檒l have to wait and see if the series makes it past the early stages of development.
We鈥檒l bring you more information on聽Ashecliffe聽as it becomes available.
Sandy Schaefer blogs at Screen Rant.