Mary Shelley's classic tale "Frankenstein" continues to be a source and inspiration for a countless number of film and television projects, and now a new 6-part series that re-imagines the story of the modern prometheus is on it's way to the small screen with a hell of a cool leading man.
Deadline is reporting that ITV has ordered the six-part series "The Frankenstein Chronicles", which is to be produced by Rainmark Films. Billed as a thrilling and terrifying re-imagining of the Frankenstein myth, the series will star "Game of Thrones" badass Sean Bean as Inspector John Marlott. Blending the investigation and horror genres, it hails from Emmy-nominated director and writer Benjamin Ross (RKO 281) and writer Barry Langford.
Set in 1827 London, the drama begins when Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel recruits Marlott after a successful operation by Thames River Police to apprehend a gang of opium smugglers. As Marlott stands on the water’s edge contemplating the arrests, he makes a shocking discovery: A corpse washed up on the shore is not what it seems at first glance. Instead, it’s a crude assembly of body parts arranged in a grotesque parody of a human form. The mutilated child-like body leaves an indelible impression on Marlott who is tasked by Peel with tracking the perpetrator of this heinous crime. As he investigates, Marlott discovers that what he’s dealing with is more horrific than he could possibly have imagined.
"The Frankenstein Chronicles" will be produced by David Tanner for Rainmark Films and Carol Moorhead ("Line Of Duty"). Executive Producers are Rainmark Films’ Tracey Scoffield and Frank Doelger ("Game Of Thrones", "Rome"). Ross will direct the series. Endemol Worldwide Distribution is handling international sales outside the UK and Ireland.
This sounds like a truly cool and unique take on the Frankenstein tale, and with Bean onboard to star it should fare well with viewers. At the very least it'll be much more entertaining than I, FRANKENSTEIN, right? I'm still trying to erase that cinematic atrocity from my mind.