If we know something very bad is going to happen, why do we feel so good about it?
That’s because no one does chilling, atmospheric dread like the Duffer brothers, the creative forces who brought you Stranger Things, the most popular English-language Netflix series of all time. Netflix has greenlit an upcoming limited series created by Haley Z. Boston from the Duffers’ and Hilary Leavitt’s production company Upside Down Pictures. The psychological horror show will bear the unmistakably ominous title Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen.
Boston will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Andrea Sperling (Transparent, Murder at the End of the World) will also executive produce via her overall deal with Netflix.
The Duffer brothers told Netflix in a statement, “We were knocked flat when we first read Haley’s script. She is a major new talent with a singular voice — her writing is twisted, terrifying, funny, and just … very Haley. We feel so lucky to be producing her first show, and we can’t wait to share her vision with the rest of the world.”
According to the logline, the series will follow a bride and groom in the week leading up to their ill-fated wedding. And obviously, it’s not a spoiler to share that not all goes right with the nuptials.
Boston will bring her own brand of horror cred to the series. She previously wrote for Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities and Brand New Cherry Flavor, both on Netflix. Her directorial debut, Beach Logs Kill, premiered at SXSW this year in the Narrative Shorts Competition.
Peter Friedlander, Vice President, Scripted Series (US & Canada) at Netflix said, “We’re thrilled to collaborate once again with dream partners Matt, Ross, and Hilary to bring this unexpected and spine-tingling story to life through Haley’s uniquely riveting vision.”
Meanwhile, as we hold our breath for Very Bad things, the Duffer brothers are currently in production on the final season of Stranger Things, as well as serving as creative producers on the Olivier Award–winning West End production Stranger Things: The First Shadow. In 2022, they announced the launch of Upside Down Pictures with Leavitt. The company’s first project, the upcoming original Netflix series The Boroughs, is set to begin production in the fall. Additionally, they have multiple projects in development, including a live-action series adaptation of Death Note.
