WE tv today announced that it has greenlit the scripted thriller, “South of Hell,” from Sonar Entertainment and Blumhouse Television. Eli Roth has been set to direct the pilot, the first episode of an eight-episode season set to premiere in 2015.
Savannah, Georgia is an elusive city with many faces and the perfect home for Maria Abascal, a stunning, 30-year-old demon-hunter-for-hire. Alongside her brother, David, she is skilled and fearless in her pursuit of the demons that live in others. Like those that she hunts, Maria is divided within herself, struggling with her own demon, Abigail, who resides inside of her, feeding on the evil Maria exorcises from others. Maria and Abigail share a soul and a destiny, but as Maria desperately tries to overtake Abigail, she will discover how far Abigail will go to remain a part of her.
“As WE tv moves firmly into scripted programming, we are committed to presenting distinctive and engaging stories to today’s savvy TV audience,” said Marc Juris, WE tv’s president. “That is certainly the case with ‘South of Hell,’ a dramatic thriller that introduces viewers to an unforgettable character, supernatural themes and the battle between good and evil.”
“‘South of Hell’ is a cornerstone production for Sonar that reflects our overall commitment to the ongoing development of quality series television,” said Sonar Entertainment CEO Gene Stein. “We are thrilled to collaborate with WE tv and the stellar creative team attached to the project to bring this compelling story to life.”
The premiere episode was written by Matt Lambert. James Manos, Jr. (“Dexter,” “The Shield,” “The Sopranos”) is executive producer and showrunner. Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions also serves as executive producer, along with Gerard Bocaccio, Stewart Till, Stein, and Roth.
“We can’t wait to work with WE tv to introduce audiences to this series led by an extremely talented creative team including James, Matt and Eli, whose vision we share in delivering thrilling entertainment,” said Jason Blum, CEO and Founder, Blumhouse Productions.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of ‘South of Hell,’” said Roth. “Exorcism and possession stories have always fascinated me, and Matt Lambert has created an incredibly rich, original world in which to tell many stories of good, evil and everyone’s own personal inner demons. I’m also honored to be working with Jim and Jason, both of whom I greatly admire. We want to create something smart and spectacular, and we are excited to be at the forefront of WE tv’s new scripted series initiative.”
