Sarah Snook to Star in HBO's 'The Birds' Limited Series Reboot

HBO is developing a limited series version of "The Birds," with Emmy winner Sarah Snook in the lead role, Variety has confirmed. The project, first reported to be on the market over the summer, has now landed at the premium cable network.

The series draws on two sources: Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 film and Daphne du Maurier's 1952 novella of the same name. Both carry weight. The film is a recognized milestone of the horror genre, and the novella has kept its grip on readers for over seventy years.

What is the new series about?

The official logline gives the premise a contemporary crime spine:

"Escaping a bitter custody battle, Myra Massey (Snook) returns home with her young daughter, secretly probing a childhood friend's suspicious disappearance. With a killer on the loose and personal threats mounting, Myra fights to protect her daughter against a terrifying new menace: vicious, deadly bird attacks inexplicably tied to the crime."

So the birds are back, but this time they arrive attached to a murder investigation. Du Maurier's original birds were never keen on explaining themselves. HBO's version appears more talkative.

Who is making it?

The creative team runs deep with HBO history:

• Tom Spezialy wrote the pilot and will executive produce. He previously worked on HBO's "Watchmen" and "The Leftovers."
• David Heyman and Danny Samit executive produce for Heyday Television. Heyman is currently an executive producer on HBO's forthcoming "Harry Potter" series, whose first season debuts this Christmas.
• Sarah Snook executive produces in addition to starring.
• Jennifer Gabler Rawlings also serves as executive producer.

HBO will co-produce with Universal Global Television. The rights to "The Birds" are controlled by Universal Pictures and the du Maurier estate — a detail that explains why the package toured the market before settling.

Why Snook?

The role returns Snook to the network that made her a household name. She starred in HBO's "Succession" for four seasons, earning three Emmy nominations and one win, plus two Golden Globe awards.

The deal also keeps her in business with Universal. She recently starred in the Peacock series "All Her Fault," which brought her another Emmy nomination. In short: HBO gets a proven lead, and Universal keeps a working relationship intact. Everyone wins except Myra Massey's character, who inherits both a custody battle and homicidal wildlife.

On the representation side, Snook is repped by UTA, Omni Artists, Shanahan Management and Hansen Jacobson Teller. Spezialy is repped by WME, Manage-ment and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Heyday Television is repped by WME and Goodman Genow. Deadline first reported the development news.

No premiere date or production window has been announced. With the package only now landing at HBO, the next milestone to watch is a series order — and whether the birds stay unexplained, as du Maurier intended.