Netflix is bringing back The Haunting of Hill House next year, green-lighting a new installment of last fall’s buzzy hit as part of a new TV production deal with series creators Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy. But don’t expect to see the Crain clan again: Season two of the Amblin TV–produced horror series will focus on “a new story with all new characters,†according to a press release announcing the renewal, and it’s got a brand-new name: The Haunting of Bly Manor.
The decision to move on to a new story line that essentially makes Haunting an anthology is something the two creators strongly telegraphed in interviews last year. “As far as I’ve ever been concerned with this, the story of the Crain family is told. It’s done,†Flanagan told EW in October. What this means for the actors involved in season one is unclear. It’s possible that Macy and Flanagan could fill some of the new roles with cast members from the first installment of the show, à la Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story anthology, though there’s been zero indication that’s being considered.
Where last year’s Hill House was an adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s 1959 gothic horror novel, Bly Manor will be “based on the works on Henry James,†according to a Netflix teaser released this morning.
As for Netflix’s new agreement with Flanagan and Macy, the multiyear, multimillion-dollar deal calls for the duo to develop and produce new TV series for the streaming giant on an exclusive basis, via their newly formed production company Intrepid Pictures. The producers will also produce movies through Intrepid, though their Netflix deal only covers TV projects. Intrepid is currently in postproduction on the movie Eli, directed by Ciarán Foy and produced by Macy. Originally made for Paramount Pictures, the film will now be released by Netflix later this year.
Macy and Flanagan, whose relationship with Netflix has included films such as Gerald’s Game and Hush, are part of an increasingly long list of talent to sign up exclusively with the streamer. In recent years, the company has spent heavily to lock up the services of talent such as Shonda Rhimes, Ryan Murphy, Kenya Barris, and Marti Noxon. In a statement announcing this latest deal, Cindy Holland, vice-president of original content for Netflix, praised Flanagan and Macy for being “masterful at creating authentically frightening stories that leave audiences on the edge of their seats, but unable to look away.â€