Blumhouse to Produce ‘Handless Maiden’ Series for Facebook Watch
Blumhouse Television have teamed up with True Blood producers Raelle Tucker and Scott Winant to create an innovative new series for Facebook Watch, with the working title Sacred Lies. The series will be a twist on the folk-tale The Handless Maiden, collected by the Grimms’ Brothers, combined with Stephanie Oaks‘ novel The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly.
The series of eight half-hour episodes details the story of Minnow Bly (played by Elena Kampouris), a handless cult-escapee who finds herself in juvenile detention and is suspected of knowing the killer of her cult leader, played by Toby Huss (Halloween).
The story has been updated and adapted by Tucker, who will also serve as the show-runner, while Winant will direct the first two episodes. Both Tucker and Winant will executive produce, alongside Jason Blum, Marci Wiseman and Jeremy Gold.
Elena Kampouris will play heroine Minnow Bly
The Handless Maiden serves as inspiration rife with opportunities for some fantastically twisted imagery. Blumhouse teaming up with the True Blood team could also bring a more modern flavour to the story, which is what the adaptation seems to be going for. However, the character of Minnow is certainly an unusual choice for a horror series protagonist. Here’s what Tucker had to say about the handless heroine:
“This is a young female protagonist we’ve never seen on screen before. She’s complex, brave, funny…and sometimes dangerous. And she has no hands. But she refuses to let that, or her bizarre, brutal past define her or limit her. That’s the message of our series: no matter what life throws at you – ultimately only you have the power to decide what you believe and what you become. I’m beyond excited and honored to bring this unique, inspiring, badass character to life.”
Wiseman and Gold also had high praise for Tucker and Winant producing the show:
“Raelle and Scott are known for pushing the envelope with complex characters, mixing genres and diving into dramatically dark subjects, which is also a hallmark of Blumhouse storytelling. Sacred Lies is an inventive twist on a time-honored fairytale which we believe will surprise and stir the Facebook Watch audience and we’re excited to be the studio producing this provocative series.”
The adapted story of Sacred Lies aims to take viewers on a journey that explores complex, flawed characters as it delves into dark subject matter, while unravelling the mystery surrounding the series’ fierce protagonist Minnow Bly – and her determination to face her demons and her past. Kevin Carroll, Kiana Madeira and Ryan Robbins also star.