It’s been quite the year for big announcements from legendary author Anne Rice. First there was the news that her beloved Vampire Lestat would return to print after over a decade in this fall’s Prince Lestat. Then, there was the announcement that Universal Pictures had landed the rights to her Vampire Chronicles series for a big screen reboot. And now, maybe the most unexpected news of all, via a story appearing in the Hollywood Reporter: it appears that Rice’s famous (infamous?) trilogy of hardcore pornography, The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, is coming to television of all places.
Televisa USA, the company that produces Lifetime’s Devious Maids series, has acquired the television and digital rights to all three books in the trilogy. Oscar-nominated Dallas Buyers Club producer Rachel Winter approached Rice about developing the book series for television back in 2012, and is set to executive produce alongside Rice. On Rice’s Facebook page, she had this to say about the series: “I am delighted. Before the era of Game of Thrones, Spartacus, and The Borgias such a thing would have been unthinkable on TV. But we are now pushing boundaries, and originality is having its day.”
Originally published under the pseudonym of A. N. Roquelaure from 1983-85, The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, Beauty’s Punishment and Beauty’s Release are set in a medieval fantasy world, where the sleeping princess is awakened by more than just a kiss… and it just keeps going from there. Rice herself once described the books as “the Disneyland of S & M.” That’s a pretty accurate description too; the Beauty trilogy features hardcore BDSM sex of every flavor, and makes 50 Shades of Gray look like an episode of The Brady Bunch.
Rice has always been quick to point out how these novels are pornography, as opposed to her lighter, yet still sexy fare like her novels Belinda and Exit to Eden, which she labeled “erotica.” With the Beauty books, there’s no mincing words, they’re porn (and proud of it.) How on Earth they plan to develop this as a series for television, even cable television, without totally watering it down is going to be quite a challenge, but I can’t wait to see how they try to pull it off.
I’m sad. This should be left up to the imagination.
I can not wait for it to came on the tv. But I do not known how she is going to pull this off for tv.please don’t water it down to much.
Omg this is wonderful news i love those books.
“How on Earth they plan to develop this as a series for television, even cable television, without totally watering it down is going to be quite a challenge, but I can’t wait to see how they try to pull it off.” Logged on to say exactly that!
What’s left over should fit nicely into a 3-minute commercial segment. 🙂
There are even better series out there from Laura Antoniou and Sharon Green (just two examples) that could be explored and enjoyed.
Seconding Laura Antoniou – I’m delighted that the Marketplace series is being released as audiobooks, at least.
What channel and time?
I hope they stay true to the spirit and sexual explicitness of the novels. “Exit to Eden” could have been an erotic milestone. Instead it was turned into a lame farce.I’m holding my breath at this news…
Hot Damn! I can’t wait to see this on screen! I hope it doesn’t melt my tv, though.
All her books are great. So glad to hear about the Beauty books turning into film. I think all her books should be made into film.
Whew you aren’t kidding – Sleeping Beauty is ALL about porn, bi-sexuality, homosexuality, S&M, etc. I had to put the book down because it just goes on and on and on with all the porn.
They were great books and it should be an interesting project although by the time the sensors get finished with it, they ought to have about three and a half minutes of airabl stuff.
“…try to pull it off.” ISWYDT
You realize that your quote: “…and makes 50 Shades of Gray look like an episode of The Brady Bunch” is an insult to The Brady Bunch.”
WAY TO GO ANNE RICE !!!
Uuuuuh…. no. You’re right. It’s porn or they’re not doing it right. Is it going to be on Cinemax?