Returned comes to life in US

A+E Network is adapting French supernatural drama Les Revenants (The Returned) alongside FremantleMedia North America.

The coproduction, between A+E Studios and FremantleMedia North America, follows a previous announcement that Shameless scribe Paul Abbot’s AbbotVision would produce an English-language remake of the Canal+ thriller for FremantleMedia.

However, a FremantleMedia spokeswoman confirmed to C21 that the two companies have since agreed not to move forward on the project.

AbbottVision is instead developing poltergeist series The Deservers, while the company and FremantleMedia International continue to work together on Abbott’s No Offence, in production for Channel 4 in the UK.

Carlton Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel) is reportedly in talks to lead the US remake of Les Revenants.

Set in an Alpine village where residents’ deceased loved ones start returning from the grave, Les Revenants (fka Rebound) was created by Fabrice Gobert and produced by Haut et Court. A+E and Fremantle will produce the US version in association with Haut et Court.

Sundance Channel in the US will give the original, eight-part series its debut in the US during Halloween next month.

FremantleMedia will distribute the A+E series internationally, excluding the US and Canada, where A+E Studios holds rights.

The executives overseeing the project for FremantleMedia North America are Thom Beers and Craig Cegielski. Bob DeBitetto will do the same for A+E Studios.

“The Returned takes an incredibly unique approach, filled with suspense and twists and turns, to the subject of the living dead,” said David McKillop, general manager and executive VP of A&E Network.