He sang his way through High School Musical. Charmed audiences in The Greatest Showman. Made us laugh in Neighbours, and delivered one of the strongest performances of his career in The Iron Claw. Throughout the years Zac Efron has proved that he’s much more than a former teen heartthrob. And that he is to step into much darker territory.
Variety reports that Zac Efron will star in and executive produce a new Angel Heart television series for HBO and A24. The project is currently in process and already has some impressive creative talent on the list. The series comes from Black Rabbit creator Zach Baylin, who will write and executive produce the project. Shōgun director Jonathan van Tulleken will direct multiple episodes and serve as an executive producer.
If you are an Efron fan but don’t really have the low down with Angel Heart. The story goes back to William Hjortsberg’s 1978 novel “Fallen Angel”. The story later made its way to the big screen in the 1987 cult classic starring Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, and Lisa Bonet. Over the years, the film developed a devoted following thanks to its blend of noir detective mystery, psychological horror, and supernatural intrigue.
The synopsis reads:
“A down-and-out NYC paparazzi, who makes his living finding and photographing people who don’t want to be found, is hired by a mysterious man to find a missing woman. But the deeper he digs to find her, the more it looks like a group of powerful elites, and maybe something supernatural, are covering up the disappearance.”
But wait……there’s more, this new adaptation appears to be taking a fresh approach. Retelling original stories can be kinda monotonous. So, the series will reportedly follow a struggling New York City paparazzo who earns a living tracking down people. The kind who would much rather stay out of the public eye. His life takes a strange turn when a mysterious client hires him to locate a missing woman. The deeper he investigates, the more he uncovers. He finds a web of powerful elites. Hidden secrets, and what may be something far more sinister lurking beneath the surface.
The premise feels like a perfect fit for HBO’s darker storytelling style. Also A24’s ability to turn unsettling concepts into unforgettable viewing experiences. It also gives Efron another opportunity to continue the career evolution we’ve seen in recent years. Performances in projects like Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile and The Iron Claw showed that he is far more comfortable exploring complicated and morally messy characters than many people expected.
While HBO and A24 are still keeping the full cast and release date under wraps. You have to admit that, the combination of Baylin, van Tulleken, and Efron alone gives audiences plenty of reasons to keep this series firmly on their radar.
If everything comes together, Angel Heart could become one of the most intriguing supernatural mystery series currently headed for television.
