TNT greenlights Crypt redo, Spike redoing The Mist

In building the horror block, TNT has ordered a pilot for Time of Death (working title), a seasonal anthology series from IM Global Television. TNT has also begun development on Creatures, from Naegle Ink.

“I’m really thrilled about the way this horror block is coming together with the addition of Time of Death and Creatures,” said Shyamalan. “That such a beloved property like Tales from the Crypt is launching our evening makes it an even more unique and exciting opportunity. Across the board, the level of talent has been very inspiring.”

Time of Death is planned as an anthology of season-long horror tales that unfold in real time – each one taking viewers hour-by-hour through a single “long night of hell.” The first season will follow a murderous psychopath who returns to his Midwestern hometown during the annual county fair to exact revenge on a community he believes destroyed his life. The pilot for Time of Death is written by Guy Busick (Watch Over Me) and newcomer R. Christopher Murphy, with Shyamalan and IM Global Television’s Mark Stern and IM Global Founder and CEO Stuart Ford serving as executive producers. While the first season of Time of Death will pay tribute to the great slasher films of the 1980s, future seasons will be inspired by the traditions of other horror subgenres.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be in business with Night and TNT,” said Stern. “Their enthusiasm for the pilot script has been obvious from the outset, and their Tales from the Crypt block is the perfect home.”

Another Tales project now in development is Creatures, a sophisticated psychological thriller that tells the disturbing tale of two former best friends who, at 12 years old, tried to cut out their classmate’s heart as a sacrifice to an internet bogeyman they invented called Mr. Gorgi. Fifteen years later, the two young women have been released from a psychiatric institute into their small town in Alaska, but it’s not long before they start to feel the alluring and terrifying presence of Mr. Gorgi once again. Creatures is a story of deep friendship and dark obsession, where a vivid imagination meets the power of suggestion and the seduction of belief. Creatures is being written by BAFTA Award winner Dominic Mitchell (In the Flesh) and produced by Sue Naegle’s Naegle Ink. Tom Shankland (House of Cards, The Missing) is attached to direct and serve as executive producer.

In January, TNT announced that it is teaming up with Shyamalan on this new horror block of terror and suspense to be curated by the Oscar(R)-nominated writer-director of The Sixth Sense, Signs and Unbreakable, and executive producer of the hit series Wayward Pines. The block will feature both short and long-form storytelling, led by the Tales from the Crypt anthology series, which is executive-produced by Shyamalan, his partner at Blinding Edge Pictures, Ashwin Rajan; Endgame’s James Stern; and Aloris Entertainment’s John Santilli and Dan McKinnon.

“The Mist” tells a harrowing story about a seemingly innocuous mist that seeps into a small town and creates immense havoc.

In February, Spike ordered a production pilot for “The Mist.” Upon hearing the series pitch and reading the script, the network has decided to go straight to series.

“From the brilliant mind of Stephen King and the incredible production team at TWC-Dimension TV, ‘The Mist’ will take audiences on a thrilling ride through a small town grappling with a mysterious and shocking horror,” said Levy.

“Christian and the entire team at TWC-Dimension TV have crafted the framework for a compelling and distinctive series that will resonate with Spike’s expanding audience,” said Levy.

“We have been fortunate to produce and distribute two of Stephen King’s films, 1408 and THE MIST, and are pleased to continue that relationship by making THE MIST into a TV series,” said Bob Weinstein, Co-Chariman The Weinstein Company. “We’ve had an incredible experience developing the series with Christian, Sharon and her team and are eager to make this series a signature show for Spike.”

Christian Torpe serves as the Executive Producer for Spike’s “The Mist.” Torpe created the successful show RITA in Denmark, now finishing its fourth season, and has developed programming for both Showtime and AMC.

Megan Spanjian, EVP of Scripted TV, was instrumental in finding and bringing Torpe to the table and will oversee the project for TWC-Dimension TV along with Matthew Signer, EVP of Production and Creative Affairs, and Keith Levine, SVP of Production and Development. Torpe is repped by ICM and Artists in Residence.

Levy, Ted Gold, Senior Vice President, Scripted Original Series, and Lauren Ruggiero, Senior Director, Scripted Programming will oversee the project.

Spike TV debuted its first scripted event series in eight years, “Tut,” last July to strong ratings and has recently ordered to series, “Red Mars” based on Kim Stanley Robinson’s award-winning “Mars Trilogy.”