When NBC previously announced they were developing a mini-series based on Roman Polanski‘s ROSEMARY’S BABY, we had no idea what to expect from it. Was it going to be a longer, self-contained series like AMERICAN HORROR STORY or was it going to be the traditional, two night network mini that was popular in the 1980s and early 1990s. Veteran TV director Agnieszka Holland (TREME, THE KILLING) will helm from a script by Scott Abbott (INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIGE) and James Wong (AMERICAN HORROR STORY, THE X-FILES).
NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke had this to say about the remake:
“As we move into the event movie and miniseries space, Rosemary’s Baby represents the kind of attention-getting, surprising project that will make noise for us. The story has been updated and moved to Paris, but it’s faithful to the spirit of Ira Levin’s classic novel.”
That’s right, while the Polanski film was set in New York City, the remake of ROSEMARY’S BABY is being relocated to Paris. It sounds like the story will remain the same as the novel and the original film: a young married couple who move into a Paris apartment that has a haunted past. After getting pregnant, the wife becomes increasingly suspicious that both her husband and their neighbors will have ulterior motives when her child is born.
What we don’t know is whether the new version will remain a psychological thriller with horror undertones or if it will be more overt with the Satanic elements. What made ROSEMARY’S BABY so great was you couldn’t tell if what was happening on screen was all in Mia Farrow‘s mind or if the Devil really had come to the Upper West Side.
NBC is looking to begin filming in January so cast selections should happen soon. I would expect ROSEMARY’S BABY to air as early as next Summer or possibly for Halloween.