Actress Carla Gugino (Sin City, “Wayward Pines“) has the cast of Netflix‘s upcoming series “The Haunting of Hill House“. Gugino will take a leading role in the series, which is expected to begin production later this year. She joins the previously cast Michel Huisman (“Orphan Black“, “Game of Thrones“). Adapted from the novel by Shirley Jackson, the series will be directed by Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Before I Wake). It is expected to be a re-imagining of Jackson’s 1959 novel that will delve deeper into the mythology of the infamous Crane family.
“The Haunting of Hill House” marks the third project that Flanagan has helmed for the popular streaming service. The genre filmmaker previously collaborated with Netflix on 2016’s Hush and an upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s Gerald’s Game, which Gugino stars in. This series is a co-production with Paramount TV and Amblin TV and will be produced by Trevor Macy, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, and Flanagan himself.
Shirley Jackson’s novel has been adapted twice previously. The first film, 1963’s The Haunting, was directed by Robert Wise and is considered to be a master class in horror filmmaking. The second adaptation, 1999’s Jan de Bont-directed version, is decidedly less celebrated and for good reason. Frankly, it’s a pretty bad film, both as an adaptation and as a haunted house movie. I suspect Flanagan’s own version will measure up a hell of a lot better.
