Well, consider our minds blown: according to The Hollywood Reporter, David Cronenberg’s heavily-memed 1981 classic, Scanners, is getting the series treatment over at HBOMax, with Black Mirror scribe William Bridges (“USS Callister”) and Yann Demange (who helmed the pilot episode of HBO’s dearly-departed Lovecraft Country) in the director’s chair.
Scanners, as you surely don’t need to be told but I’m gonna forge ahead, anyway, took place in a world where some folks (the titular “Scanners”) are blessed/cursed with various telekinetic, psychic, and telepathic powers. The plot revolves around one faction of Scanners, led by the iconic Michael Ironside, waging war against a rival group of Scanners (employed by a sinister private security firm called ConSec). It is, yes, the movie from the gif where the guy’s head explodes.
So, what’s this version about? THR says:
“The series is being described as a visceral thriller set in the mind-bending world of Cronenberg’s film. It will focus on two women living on the fringes of modern society who are pursued by relentless agents with unimaginable powers and thus must learn to work together to topple a vast conspiracy determined to bring them to heel.”
Interesting, and doubly so considering that they’re planning this as an ongoing series, rather than an original feature or limited event. Also worth noting: Cronenberg himself is onboard to Executive Produce, which lends this series its own sort of blessing that’ll certainly be of value to fans of the original. Of interest to FANGORIA Editor-in-Chief Phil Nobile Jr. (and possibly you, the gentle reader at home) is the fact that Demange was at one point under consideration to direct the most recent James Bond film, No Time to Die.
We’re a way off from Scanners hitting HBOMax, obviously, but we’re very excited about this project and will of course keep you informed as further news and casting updates roll in. While you’re waiting on that to arrive, why not revisit Cronenberg’s original this evening? Here’s a trailer to sell you on that idea, should you need it:
