HORROR ON TV - Bret Easton Ellis and Rob Zombie To Join Forces on Manson Family Project

Now, first and foremost, this project is so fresh that you can't even say it's in the preliminary stages of development. It's far from being greenlit, so don't get too excited yet, but it's extremely possible that it may happen.

 Fox has commissioned writer/novelist Bret Easton Elliot (American Psycho novel, The Canyons) and famed horror director Rob Zombie (The Devil's Rejects, The Lords of Salem) for a project that sheds light on the people and circumstances that led to the infamous Manson Family murders. Ellis and Zombie have teamed with Alcon Television for the project.

The project is envisioned as a miniseries, and will focus on the intersecting stories of lives and events leading up to what became known as the most infamous murder spree in American history. Zombie developed the idea for the project with Adam Kolbrenner and Robyn Meisinger of Madhouse Entertainment, who then took it to Ellis and Alcon. Ellis, Zombie and the Madhouse principals will exec produce with Alcon’s Sharon Hall, Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson. Ben Roberts and Ryan Cunningham serve as co-producers.

The Manson Family murders have drawn interest and speculation from millions of people since their twisted ideology came to light in 1969, and Zombie's interest in the case is what drew him into the project. “I have been obsessed with this insane story since I was a kid, so obviously I jumped at the chance to be involved in this incredible project. After speaking with Bret, I immediately realized that we shared the same vision for this epic madness,” Zombie said. 

Charles Manson's level of depravity, manipulation and sadistic tendencies run so deep that he was convicted and sentenced to death in 1971 without having committed a single homicide. When the death sentence was abolished in America in 1972, as being seen unconstitutional, Manson's sentence was changed to life in prison. However, when it was reinstated, his sentence of life imprisonment stood. He has been denied parole 12 times, but continues to harbor a band of followers outside the walls of Corcoran State Prison who still call themselves the Manson family. 

COMIC NEWS - Commissioner Gordon Heads to Fox In His Own Drama Series

 
This may not be horror, but there's something you're gonna learn about me. I love Batman and I will write about him any given chance, even though this doesn't actually have all that much to do with Batman himself. 
 
First, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (wow, that's hard to type), now we have Gotham in the next line of superhero based TV series that will not feature any superheroes. This one, will be focusing on Commissioner James Gordon in his early years and the rise of Gotham's villains before either meet the Batman. The series will focus heavily on Gordon's years as a detective for Gotham PD, so I'm hoping maybe, just maybe, at the end we'll get a little sneak peak of Batman: Year One?

There's very little word as of yet, however Bruno Heller, creator of The Mentalist and Rome, has been tapped to write and executive produce. 

I'm also grateful that this isn't being released by the giant crap-shoot that is The CW, whom DC's parent company, Time Warner, happens to own 50% of. Arrow currently airs and The Flash is  in development there. 

It's just too bad that Bryan Cranston is too old to play Gordon in this series, he was perfect in the animated DC feature, Batman: Year One.