Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray is headed to the small screen, Deadline reports.
Wilde’s novel, published in 1891, tells the story of the titular Victorian aristocrat who sells his soul in order to remain young and attractive; in his stead, a portrait painted of him ages. It is now considered a classic of world literature.
Netflix is developing a reimagined series based on the novel, titled The Grays. The show will be set in contemporary times and will focus on the beauty industry; in the series, Dorian and his friend Basil will be brothers.
Rina Mimoun, who has written for series including Dawson’s Creek, Everwood, and Pushing Daisies, will be the showrunner, and Katie Rose Rogers (Supergirl) will write the series. Lee Toland Krieger (Riverdale, You) is on board to direct.
Mimoun, Rogers, Robbie Rogers, and Greg Berlanti, the former Dawson’s Creek showrunner, are among the show’s executive producers.
The Picture of Dorian Gray has been frequently adapted for the screen, perhaps most notably by director Albert Lewin in a 1945 film that starred George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield, Donna Reed, and Angela Lansbury.
More recently, Oliver Parker directed a film titled Dorian Gray based on the novel, with Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Ben Chaplin, and Rebecca Hall headlining the cast.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
