A television adaptation ofCape Fearis officially in development, with Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese producing, andJavier Bardemin the lead. It was first reported back in November 2023 that the thrillerCape Fearwas in the process of becoming a television series. At the time, it was mentioned that the high-profile project was headed for a bidding war with several interested outlets.
Apple TV+ looks to have won that war, withVarietyconfirming thatthe streamer has given a series order to a television adaptation ofCape Fear, with Bardem in the lead, in addition to Scorsese and Spielberg producing.Consisting of ten episodes, theCape Fearshow will be written and showrun by Nick Antosca, who is known for the horror anthologyChannel Zeroand the true crime thrillerA Friend of The Family. The logline for the newCape Fearis below:
“A storm is coming for happily married attorneys Amanda and Steve Bowden when Max Cady (Bardem), a notorious killer from their past, gets out of prison.”
UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Amblin Television produce the series. Antosca and Bardem are also executive producers, as is Alex Hedlund for production company Eat The Cat, and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey for Amblin Television.Cape Fearis produced as part of Antosca’s overall deal at UCP, which dates back to 2017.
What To Know About Cape Fear
The Movie Adaptation Was A Success
As a story, theCape Fearname has lent itself to a few different versions.Scorsese’s 1991Cape Fearwas a remakeof the 1962 movie of the same name, which itself was based on the novelThe Executionersby John D. MacDonald. The plot centers on a convicted sex offender who uses his newfound knowledge of the law and its various loopholes to seek vengeance against the public defender he blames for his imprisonment.
The 1962 film was directed by John Lee Thompson and starred Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum.
Scorsese’s cast made waves with critics and at the box office, earning Oscar nominations for Robert De Niro and co-star Juliette Lewis. It racked up more than $182 million worldwide against a reported $35 million budget. The newCape Fearstoryis described asa tense Hitchcockian thriller and an examination of America’s obsession with true crime in the 21st century.
Our Take On The New Cape Fear
It Could Be Very Promising
The 1991Cape Fearmovie was originally developed by Spielberg, as Scorsese had been working onSchindler’s List. The two longtime friends ended up swapping movies. While the television adaptation will have a big legacy to live up to, the addition of Bardem is a great choice. The Oscar winner, recently seen in Netflix’sMonsters, is more than up for the lead role after playing imposing villains like Anton Chigurh inNo Country For Old Menand Raoul Silva in the James Bond filmSkyfall.
Cape Fear
Cast
A remake of the 1962 movie of the same name, which itself was based on a John D. MacDonald novel, Cape Fear tells the story of a convicted rapist who is looking to get even with the lawyer who helped to put him away for 14 years. Many of the cast of the original movies make cameo appearances, including both Martin Balsam and Gregory Peck.
