South of Hell is the story Maria Abascal is a demon-hunter-for-hire in Savannah, Georgia, who has to also fight the demon inside her. Abigail feeds on the evil that Maria exorcises from others and Maria has to constantly struggle of overcome Abigail. In both arenas, her most trusted aide is her brother, David.
WE tv has greenlit South of Hell with the series premiere to be directed by horror master Eli Roth. Roth and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum are also among the show’s producers. The network has ordered eight episodes, with a premiere date to be determined later. For more details, check out the press release after the jump.
WE tv GREENLIGHTS ORIGINAL SCRIPTED DRAMA SERIES “SOUTH OF HELL”
ELI ROTH TO DIRECT PREMIERE EPISODE
NEW YORK, NY – May 22, 2014 – WE tv today announced that it has greenlit the scripted thriller, “South of Hell,” from Sonar Entertainment and Blumhouse Television. “South of Hell” is a gripping supernatural thriller set in Savannah, GA and focused on Maria Abascal, a demon hunter whose power stems from within. The premiere episode will be directed by Eli Roth (“Hostel,” “Hemlock Grove,” “The Green Inferno”). WE tv has ordered eight, 60-minute episodes of “South of Hell,” and plans a 2015 premiere.
“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 (“Paranormal Activity,” “Insidious,” “Sinister”) also serves as executive producer, along with Gerard Bocaccio, Stewart Till, Stein, and Roth.
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.
“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.”
WE tv’s “The Divide,” a scripted crime drama, will debut Wednesday, July 16 at 9 pm ET/PT with a special two-hour premiere. “The Divide” is a thought-provoking and suspenseful drama that explores the personal cost of morality, ambition, ethics, politics, and race in today’s justice system through the eyes of Christine Rosa played by Marin Ireland (“Homeland,” “Boss,” “Side Effects”), an impassioned caseworker with The Innocence Initiative, and Adam Page played by Damon Gupton (“The Newsroom,” “Prime Suspect”), an equally passionate district attorney and political rising star.
About WE tv
WE tv (www.wetv.com) showcases and celebrates modern women who are bold, independent and taking control of their lives. Whether they are celebrities like Joan Rivers or Toni Braxton, or everyday women, their stories are as relatable as they are entertaining. WE tv’s popular slate of fresh and modern unscripted original series includes the hit shows Braxton Family Values, Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? and Mary Mary, among others. WE tv will debut its first scripted series, The Divide, in July. Audiences connect to WE tv online, on demand and via social media. WE tv is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and is available in over 85 million homes on every major cable, satellite and telco provider.