Bryan Fuller is at work on Hannibal, which looks at the early days of Hannibal Lecter, and A&E is developing Bates Motel, another prequel of sorts that looks into the history of a madman, in this case, Norman Bates.
With these shows on the way, we thought it’d be a good time to look at some other movies-turned-TV shows that onces graced the screen.
FREDDY’S NIGHTMARES: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET THE TV SERIES (1988-1990)
FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE SERIES (1987-1990)
It seems Jason Vorhees fancied his chances at TV stardom too and just like fellow maniac Freddy, failed spectacularly. Originally planned to be titled The 13th Hour, Friday The 13th :The Series was the brain child of a producer who just wanted to draw in the horror audience purely on the weight of the Friday brand. The story centres on an old antique shop previously owned by a Lewis Vendredi who sold his soul to the devil tries to break the pact and ends up losing his life completely, cursing the shop and everything in it before passing it on to relatives Micki and Ryan. The duo take it upon themselves to collect every cursed artefact they can find in the hope of saving the owners.
BLADE: THE SERIES (2006)
Kirk’ Sticky Fingaz’ Jones filled in the boots of Snipes’ main character while David S. Goyer returned for scripting duties on the shows pilot, stepping aside for later episodes.
THE HUNGER (TV SERIES) (1997 -2000)
Way before the days of True Blood and Walking Dead proved that horror and the macabre can be TV gold, shows like this were handled by TV executives at arms length.
Terrance Stamp took hosting duties for season one then David Bowie himself stepped in for season two.
BATES MOTEL (TELEVISION MOVIE) (1987)
West inherits the Bates motel when Norman dies only to find the old place may very well still have a guest haunting the grounds.
This was essentially another feature length pilot for a series that will never see the light of day.
TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE (1983 – 1988)
The series echoed the EC comics approach to the genre that Creepshow took and later spawned a movie starring Deborah Harry, Christian Slater and Steve Buscemi. A personal favourite from the series is an adaptation of Clive Barker’s The Yattering and Jack, a short story from the Books Of Blood which concerned a man trying the best he can to live his life whilst being haunted by a demon from hell.
