After the success of House of Cards, Netflix is prepping for its next hit in the form of a new supernatural drama, Hemlock Grove. Based on the novel by Brian McGreevy, the show involves the murder of a young girl, and two suspects finding out who the real killer is. Here’s what you should know about Netflix’s newest original series.
1. The Series is Labeled as a Horror Thriller
Hemlock Grove spans three genres: horror, supernatural drama, and thriller. The story focuses on a a murder case of a young girl whose body is found near the Godfrey steel mill in the fictional town of Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania. The two suspects, a 17-year-old street kid rumored to be a werewolf and a wealthy boy who is the heir to the Godfrey estate, investigate to find the killer in order to clear their names.
2. It’s Based on a New Novel
The show is based on Brian McGreevy’s debut novel, published on March 27, 2012. The author teamed up with writer Lee Shipman to help develop the series for Netflix. McGreevy stated at New York’s 92YTribeca event that he will develop two sequels to his novel, so expect at least two more seasons if the series is successful.
3. Famke Janssen Plays One of the Leads
Dutch actress and model Famke Janssen will star as one of the lead characters in the Netflix series, playing the mother of one of the male leads, played by Bill Skarsgard. The actress has been known for her roles in films like GoldenEye, X-Men, and Taken as well as her TV stint on Nip/Tuck.
4. A Skarsgard Sibling Makes His Debut
Bill Skarsgard is following in the famous footsteps of his older brother Alexander Skarsgard, who plays Eric Northman in the HBO series True Blood. Bill sets to make his TV debut in Hemlock Grove, playing one of the main leads, Roman Godfrey, who teams up with Peter to catch a serial killer.
5. A Degrassi Star Tries His Hand on TV Again
Degrassi star Landon Liboiron hasn’t had luck on American TV lately after starring in failed programs such as Life Unexpected and Terra Nova. His luck might change in Hemlock Grove, playing Peter Rumancek, a street-smart kid who may also turn out to be a werewolf. Here’s hoping that the Canadian actor finds his calling on American soil.
6. It’s Being Produced By Eli Roth
Hemlock Grove is being produced by horror filmmaker Eli Roth, known for his bloody violent films like Hostel and Hostel: Part II. He spoke with Variety about bringing Hemlock Grove to the small screen:
What’s most exciting to me is creating the series for Netflix, which as a feature filmmaker is like telling a story in a new medium. Netflix as a platform is the perfect hybrid of cinema, television and social networking, with the creative freedom to go as dark as the story needs.
7. The Season Will Run For 13 Episodes
Just like Netflix’s House of Cards, Hemlock Grove will run for 13 episodes with the entire season being released on the day of its debut.
8. You Can Check Out the New Trailer
To give you a taste of what to expect from Netflix’s next original series, here’s the latest trailer of the supernatural drama.
9. Filming Was Supposed to Be in Pennsylvania
Author Brian McGreevy wanted the show to be shot in Pennsylvania, where the novel takes place. With a budget of $45 million, production was expected take place in Pittsburgh, with shooting to begin in early June 2012 and run through November. In mid May, however, production house Gaumont International Television decided to shoot the series in Toronto at the Cinespace Film Studio. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the production crew pulled out of Pennsylvania due to a misunderstanding on how the state’s Film Tax Credit program worked.
10. Production Moved to Canada
After pulling out of Pennsylvania, the film crew resumed production in Toronto on July 13. Filming took place in Port Perry, Ontario, where the crew transformed the small town into what looked like a typical American town. Durnham Region reported that the crew replaced most of the signs and decor so the town would resemble Pennsylvania.