A&E Orders The Returned

Steve Barton   |  

Apr 29, 2014

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Confirmation has come that yet another foreign property is getting the Americanized treatment! We told you a few months ago that the hit French series “The Returned” (“Les Revenants”) is getting an American remake. Today we have more details.

According to Deadline U.S. version of the acclaimed and popular French zombie series is a go. A&E has given a 10-episode straight-to-series order to the project, also titled “The Returned,” which had been on fast-track development since the network acquired the rights to the French series last fall. Carlton Cuse (“Bates Motel”) wrote the first episode, and he and Raelle Tucker (“True Blood”) will write and executive produce the supernatural/suspense series, a co-production between A+E Studios and FremantleMedia North America, with three scripts already completed. Casting will begin immediately.

Based on the International Emmy-winning French suspense series by Fabrice Gobert, which in turn was inspired by the French feature film of the same name directed by Robin Campillo, “The Returned” focuses on a small town that is turned upside down when several local people, who have been long presumed dead suddenly reappear, bringing with them both positive and detrimental consequences. As families are reunited, the lives of those who were left behind are challenged on a physical and emotional level as strange phenomena begin to occur.

The site goes on to say that A&E’s version is faithful to the original. “The Returned has the potential to be one of the most compelling drama series on cable, thanks to phenomenal scripts written by Carlton and Raelle,” said A&E general manager David McKillop. This marks the second straight-to-series order for Cuse at A&E, where he also has Psycho prequel series “Bates Motel,” recently renewed for a third season. With the pickup of “The Returned,” Cuse ties Julie Plec as the writing drama producer with the most series on the air, 3: “Bates Motel,” and “The Returned” at A&E and the upcoming horror series “The Strain” at FX — not too shabby for the former “Lost” co-showrunner who had been eying a slower pace following his intense stint on the complex ABC series.

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