MTV has put in development Freaks of the Heartland, a dark fairy tale drama series from Dark Horse Entertainment, the film and TV division of comic book publisher Dark Horse Comics, and Universal Cable Prods. David Gordon Green is attached to produce and direct, subject to availability.
Written by Geoff Davey and Peter Sattler (Camp X-Ray), the project is based on the Dark Horse Comics graphic novel by Steve Niles, with art by Greg Ruth. Freaks of the Heartland is set in a rural town in America’s heartland that has harbored a terrible secret. Trevor’s family had been hiding his deformed little brother Will in the barn, hidden from the world by their father. When the local sheriff discovers Will and kills their father in the subsequent struggle, the boys go on the run, framed for the murder, and uncover that Will isn’t the only one, that “freak” children were born to other families in this town, and that the sheriff killed many of them years ago. Now he wants to finish the job, and only Trevor stands in his way. Trevor will do whatever it takes to keep his brother – and all the other innocent freaks still in hiding – out of harms way.
Dark Horse Entertainment’s Mike Richardson & Keith Goldberg executive produce along with Niles and the Gotham Group. Davey and Sattler co-executive produce.
Freaks of the Heartland stems from Dark Horse Entertainment’s first-look deal with UCP. Under that pact, the two companies also have sold Harrow County, a drama adaptation of the Dark Horse comic. to Syfy, with Becky Kirsch writing the script.
