The acclaimed zombie drama “The Returned” or “Les Revenants” is headed toward a U.S. remake – as we told you back in September of last year – with “Bates Motel” and “The Strain” showrunner Carlton Cuse overseeing the adaptation. A&E has just given the series a 10-episode straight-to-series order, which obviously means they have great faith in the material and their “Bates” employee Cuse.
Created by Fabrice Gobert, “Les Revenants” was inspired by the 2004 feature film by the same name directed by Robin Campillo. Here’s the synopsis for that show, which can be seen in the U.S on the Sundance channel.
In an idyllic French mountain town, a seemingly random collection of people find themselves in a state of confusion as they attempt to return to their homes. What they do not yet know is that they have been dead for several years, and no one is expecting them back. As they struggle to reintegrate with their families and past lovers, buried secrets emerge and new mysteries develop as they grapple with a miraculous and sinister new reality. But it seems they are not the only ones to have returned from the dead. Their arrival coincides with a series of gruesome murders which bear a chilling resemblance to the work of a serial killer from the past.
Cuse 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.
Check out the U.S. trailer for “The Returned” below.