Amazon MGM Studios has greenlit a pilot for “The Nightbeast,” a horror comedy featuring Tatiana Maslany.
In “The Nightbeast,” a young mother, discontent with her seemingly perfect suburban life, embarks on an affair with the boogeyman in her son’s closet. This boogeyman, known as the Nightbeast, is unexpectedly attractive. What starts as a harmless fantasy soon spirals into chaos as her two worlds collide in this darkly comedic and seductive tale.
The show is the brainchild of Leah Rachel and Travis Jackson. Executive producers include Peter Warren, Justin Levy, Fred Berger, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones for Range Studios’ Station26, Kristen Campo for Campout, and Jamie Babbit, who also directs. Maslany not only stars but also serves as a producer.
If the pilot is successful, “The Nightbeast” will likely stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Maslany is renowned for her role in the Canadian sci-fi series “Orphan Black,” where she played multiple characters. The series ran for five seasons from 2013 to 2017, with a spinoff, “Orphan Black: Echoes,” set to premiere on June 24. She also starred in the 2022 Marvel series “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.” Her other notable works include “Heartland,” “Perry Mason,” “Destroyer,” and “The Other Half.”
Leah Rachel is best known for creating the horror series “Chambers,” which aired on Netflix for one season in 2019. Jackson, Rachel’s partner, was a writer and co-producer on the series, which featured Nicholas Galitzine, Tony Goldwyn, and Uma Thurman.
Tatiana Maslany is set to star in a new Amazon MGM Studios show that sounds like a sexy twist on “The Babadook.” Maslany will star in and produce the dark comedy pilot “The Nightbeast.” The show follows a mom who has an affair with the monster in her son’s closet.
The show is created by Leah Rachel (“Chambers”) and Travis Jackson (“Hemlock Grove”). Executive producers include Peter Warren, Justin Levy, Fred Berger, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, and Kristen Campo, with Jamie Babbit (“Only Murders in the Building,” “Russian Doll”) directing. The detailed synopsis reads: “A young mother, unsatisfied with her seemingly perfect suburban life, begins an affair with the boogeyman in her son’s closet – a surprisingly sexy man called the Nightbeast. But this harmless affair she thought to be a figment of her imagination begins to have unexpected consequences, as her two worlds increasingly begin to collide in this seductive, darkly comedic tale.”
Amazon acquired MGM in 2022 and has been leveraging the studio’s horror titles. They are also developing a “Poltergeist” TV series. If the pilot for “The Nightbeast” is well-received, it will likely be picked up for a full season, streaming on Prime Video and/or MGM+. However, a series commitment has not yet been made, so it may be some time before we know if Amazon will move forward beyond the pilot.
Maslany has been busy recently, starring in Marvel’s “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” and the animated series “Invincible.” She is best known for her Emmy-winning role in “Orphan Black.” Maslany is no stranger to horror, with early credits in George A. Romero’s “Diary of the Dead” and “Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming.” She was also recently cast in Oz Perkins’ upcoming film “The Keeper.”
“The Nightbeast” does not yet have a release date, but it is in the early stages of development. Stay tuned for more updates.
