Amazon Studios has ordered the genre series “The Horror of Dolores Roach,” based on the hit “Gimlet” podcast, with the show premiering exclusively on Prime Video. Featuring an eight-episode first season, the series is a contemporary spin on Sweeney Todd and will feature macabre tales of love, betrayal, and cannibalism.
Justina Machado, star of The Purge: Anarchy and Final Destination 2, will lead the cast of the series that also includes Alejandro Hernandez (“Gotham”), K. Todd Freeman (Grosse Point Blank), and Kita Updike (The Misandrists).
In “The Horror of Dolores Roach,” “Dolores Roach is released from prison after 16 years and returns to a severely gentrified Washington Heights with $200 and the clothes on her back. Her is boyfriend missing, her family is long gone, Dolores reunites with an old stoner buddy, Luis, who gives her room and board and lets her give massages for cash in the basement under his dilapidated storefront, Empanada Loca, the only remnant of her former life. When the promise of her newfound stability is quickly threatened, ‘Magic Hands Dolores’ is driven to shocking extremes to survive, and in the face of unexpected professional success, Dolores and Luis become dangerously symbiotic, and Luis must unleash his peculiar predilections.”
The series will be executive produced by the writer and director of the podcast, Aaron Mark who serves as showrunner along with Dara Resnik. Jason Blum, Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold of Blumhouse Television, and Chris Giliberti and Justin McGoldrick of Spotify are also executive producing. Gloria Calderón Kellett and Roxann Dawson executive produce and directed the pilot.
