Netflix has had success with true-crime programming in the past, and it looks like it plans to continue that streak: The streaming service has announced the production of a six-hour scripted miniseries adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s historical novel Alias Grace, about real-life convicted murderer Grace Marks. With it comes a stellar roster of talent—Sarah Polley, storyteller behind the excellent films Away From Her and Stories We Tell, will adapt the novel for the screen, while American Psycho’s Mary Harron will direct.*
The details of the central case are relatively unknown, but in 1843, Marks, a Canadian domestic worker, and James McDermott, a stable hand, were convicted of murdering their employer, Thomas Kinnear, and his housekeeper. McDermott was hanged and Marks received life in prison, only to be exonerated 30 years later.
Alias Grace will air on CBC and stream on Netflix worldwide.
*Correction, June 21, 2016: Due to an editing error, this post originally misspelled Mary Harron’s last name.
