HBO and Paramount TV are teaming up with Martin Scorsese who is set to direct the pilot episode for a TV series based on 2010’s “Shutter Island”. The film starring Leonardo DiCaprio will be receiving the small screen treatment with many stars of the motion picture attached to assist with the production. Scorsese, DiCaprio,  Dennis Lehane, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Brad Fischer, Kalogridis, Rick Yorn, Chris Donnelly, Laeta Koskoff, Mike Medavoy and Arnie Messer are onboard as exec producers of the upcoming psychological thriller series. This will be something to keep an eye on because of the talented production team and potential for the storyline.

'Shutter Island' Prequel TV Series 'Ashecliffe' in the Works

‘Shutter Island’ Prequel TV Series in the Works

It is not clear how the plot will be structured in terms of the main cast, but there is lots of room to expand on the psychological uneasiness of the motion picture. Perhaps they can play out all the conspiracy theories about Shutter Island, especially the secret government facility angle. The Hollywood Reporter shared some news of what to expect from the series tentatively titled “Ashecliffe” (named after the mental hospital):

“Ashecliffe would take place at the isolated mental hospital depicted in the Leonardo DiCaprio starrer, with the potential TV series serving as a prequel to the movie and taking place before the events in the film. The drama would explore the hospital’s past and misdeeds by its founders — a la FX’s American Horror Story: Asylum.”

Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island located in Boston Harbor

Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island located in Boston Harbor

In that case we can expect to see the insane patients at Ashecliffe receiving experimental treatments that include potent drug cocktails, lobotomies and shock therapy. The script is from Dennis Lehane who penned the novel that Scorsese and screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis turned into the 2010 movie.

We can expect more movie-to-small-screen productions, courtesy of Paramount’s new TV division.

The Hollywood Reporter says:

“For Paramount TV, Ashercliffe comes as the division continues to mine the studio’s film library. Par TV recently received a straight-to-series order at Nickelodeon for a live-action School of Rock adaptation. The studio, which returned to TV production with 2013’s ill-fated Beverly Hills Cop CBS pilot, also is tapping into its feature library for small-screen takes on Ghost, Terminator and The Truman Show, among other original fare including Fox’s live production of Grease.”