Netflix has taken a page from fellow streaming giant Hulu’s book, and created a new miniseries based on Margaret Atwood’s crime novel Alias Grace. Written and produced by Sarah Polley (Away from Her) and directed by Mary Harron (American Psycho), the six-hour miniseries will trace Atwood’s riveting retelling of the real-life “murderess”, Grace Marks.
The novel and subsequent miniseries revolve around the historical crime story of Irish immigrant Grace Marks, convicted of double homicide in 19th Century Canada. Marks served 30 years for her role in the double murder of her employer Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper/lover Nancy Montgomery. James McDermott, Grace’s stablehand and accomplice, was hanged for the crime.
The miniseries, for the most part, will follow Atwood’s novel Alias Grace whilst introducing the fictional Dr. Simon Jordan… an admittedly creepy, and ethically questionable physician that takes a keen interest in Marks.
While the miniseries will span a mere six hours, the 19th Century era and tone will undoubtedly propel the exploration of a legion of social, gender and political themes – true to the Atwood formula.
As die-hard Margaret Atwood and The Handmaid’s Tale fans, we here at FIB will be re-reading Alias Grace until Netflix releases the miniseries on the 3rd of November, 2017.