In 1991, director Martin Scorsese remade 1962’s Cape Fear, based on the 1957 novel The Executioners by John D. MacDonald, for Steven Spielberg‘s Amblin Entertainment. It appears they’re returning to the IP: Deadline reports that Scorsese and Spielberg have teamed with “Channel Zero” creator Nick Antosca for a new series that’ll take an unconventional approach.
“Cape Fear” marks the first ever TV collaboration for Scorsese and Spielberg, who are executive producing the project from creator, executive producer and showrunner Nick Antosca (“Brand New Cherry Flavor,” Antlers).
The series is described as a “a tense, contemporary thriller that examines America’s obsession with true crime in the 21st century. In it, a storm is coming for a pair of married attorneys when an infamous killer from their past gets released after years in prison.”
In every iteration of Cape Fear so far, the plot sees a lawyer’s family tormented by the criminal he helped put in prison.
The 1962 adaptation of MacDonald’s novel was helmed by J. Lee Thompson and starred Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum and Polly Bergen. It was heavily influenced by Alfred Hitchcock. Scorsese’s 1991 feature starred Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange, with appearances from original stars Peck and Mitchum.
Deadline also shares that “Antosca has reportedly been obsessed with both Cape Fear movies since childhood and approached Universal about adapting the property through UCP where he has been based for the past seven years.”
With Scorsese, Spielberg, and Antosca behind it, it’s no surprise that “Cape Fear” is reportedly stirring up a bidding war. Per Deadline, “The bidding is still in early stages. Some logical potential destinations would include UCP sibling Peacock, where Antosca recently did A Friend Of the Family; Apple TV+, where Scorsese has a first-look TV deal and just directed Killers Of the Flower Moon; Hulu, home of Antosca/UCP’s The Act and Candy; and Netflix, the platform of Antosca/UCP’s Brand New Cherry Flavor; with other major players, such as HBO, also said to be interested.”
Scorsese and Spielberg executive produce alongside Antosca and Alex Hedlund via Eat The Cat, the company Antosca launched four years ago, and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey via Amblin Television.