Reed Morano is stepping behind the camera for another adaptation of a feminist dystopia. The Emmy-winning “Handmaid’s Tale” helmer is bringing Naomi Alderman’s “The Power” to the small screen for Amazon. Alderman will pen the script, and “Broadchurch” producer Jane Featherstone’s Sister Pictures is making the 10-part series for the streamer after optioning the award-winning book in 2016. Deadline confirmed the news.
International in scope, “The Power” tells the story of a world where teen girls develop the power to harness electricity and shock people at will. “Over the first season and beyond, the series will follow its cast of characters from London to Arizona, Nigeria to Moldova, as the Power evolves from a tingle in teenagers’ collarbones to a complete reversal of the power balance of the world,” the source summarizes.
“’The Power’ is a timely, provocative series that will powerfully resonate with the book’s passionate fans worldwide,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. “We’re delighted to be working with renowned writer Naomi Alderman, the talented team at Sister Pictures led by Jane Featherstone, and the visionary Reed Morano, to bring this thrilling, multi-layered series to our Prime Video members around the world.”
Alderman added, “I’m thrilled beyond words that ‘The Power’ will be broadcast around the world by Amazon. Jennifer Salke and her team have had a huge and obvious passion for the project from the very first meeting – as well as a vision for how the show can reach the widest possible audience. The story is a global one, about the lives of women and men everywhere in the world, so I’m hugely excited that ‘The Power’ will be sparking conversation and debate essentially… everywhere. We’re going to make something revolutionary and, dare I say it, electrifying.”
Alderman’s 2006 novel “Disobedience” was adapted for the big screen in 2017 with Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams starring. The drama sees a woman (Weisz) returning to the Orthodox Jewish community she grew up in and reigniting a forbidden romance with a childhood friend (McAdams).
Morano’s directing credits include “I Think We’re Alone Now,” “Meadowland,” and “Halt and Catch Fire.” Her next pic, Blake Lively spy thriller “The Rhythm Section,” hits theaters November 22. She signed an overall deal with Amazon Studios in 2018.
