Heyday and Universal Shop New The Birds Series Starring Snook

A new limited television series reimagining Alfred Hitchcock’s classic horror film “The Birds” is moving forward, with actress Sarah Snook attached to star. The project, currently being shopped to buyers, comes from Universal International Studios and Heyday Television.

The series is described as a visceral, present-day reimagining set in Alaska. It centers on a new female protagonist, Myra Massey, played by Snook. Myra is a traveling magistrate who returns to her isolated hometown for a routine presumptive death hearing. Instead of a simple cold case, she discovers her childhood friend has been shot. As she steps outside her judicial role to investigate the murder, a series of unexplained bird attacks begin to plague the town, forcing her to fight for survival.

Tom Spezialy, known for his work on “The Leftovers” and “Watchmen,” is writing the series. He and Snook will also executive produce alongside David Heyman of Heyday Television and Jennifer Gabler Rawlings of Omni Artists.

The project has been in development for over a year. During an industry event last June, Sue Gibbs, Head of Development at Heyday Television, stated the series would draw inspiration more directly from...