The Righteous Gemstoneshas ended, and HBO hitmakerDanny McBrideis looking for his next project. Many horror fans were hoping that he would next turn his attention toThe Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, a 2020 novel byGrady Hendrix; a Max adaptation of the novel was announced last year, with both McBride and fellow GemstoneEdi Pattersonon board. However, in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, McBride reveals that the project has stalled.
Set in the 1990s, Hendrix’s book centers around an unfulfilled homemaker who joins a book club, only to enlist their help when she realizes one of her neighbors is a deadly vampire. Says McBride, speculating that the book’s mixture ofcomedy and horrormakes it a tough sell: “We haven’t gotten much momentum on it. Even at HBO, it’s tough making a 30-minute show ensemble that mixes genres. Really difficult. I love that property and would love to do something with it, but I don’t know. We worked on it for a bit and we weren’t getting the reaction to it that we were wanting. it’s sort of floating out there right now.” McBride does still believe in the project, but implies the decision is out of his hands: “To me, it’s a no-brainer. I feel like HBO should just want to go greenlight that now. We should have moved right into shooting the pilot after we wrappedGemstones. Maybe it’s just not what they’re looking for right now.”
What Other Horror Projects Has Danny McBride Been Involved With?
Although he’s best known for comedy series likeEastbound and DownandVice Principals, McBride has deep horror roots. With directorDavid Gordon Green, McBride penned the scripts for the legacy slasher sequelsHalloween,Halloween Kills, andHalloween Ends; McBride also executive produced the trilogy of films, which broughtJamie Lee Curtis' Laurie Strode back to do battle with her nemesis, Michael Myers. Less successful at reviving a moribund franchise wasThe Exorcist: Believer, which McBride executive produced and contributed to the story. In front of the camera, McBride starred as salt-of-the-earth starship pilot Tennessee inRidley Scott’sAlien: Covenant.
One of Hendrix’s novels,My Best Friend’s Exorcism, was already adapted as a film in 2022. He also penned the scripts for the horror filmsMohawkandSatanic Panic.
Danny McBride’s adaptation ofThe Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampireshas stalled, andmay not be moving forward. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
