Netflix preps 'Hemlock Grove' series

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., March 21 (UPI) -- Netflix says it will be the exclusive home of "Hemlock Grove," a new suspense series set in a Pennsylvania steel town and based on the novel by Brian McGreevy.

The series is being directed by Eli Roth, creator of the "Hostel" horror film franchise. Starring Famke Janssen and Bill Skarsgard, the 13-episode series is to be released on Netflix starting in early 2013.

"Eli Roth is a master of this genre and Brian McGreevy's brilliant novel gives Roth a world where he can create his magic," Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer, said in a statement Wednesday. "'Hemlock Grove' is a sly blend of J.D. Salinger and Mary Shelley and will appeal to a broad base of fans captivated by these rich characters and stunning visuals."

"I've been waiting for years to dive into television, and [my producing partner] Eric Newman and I founded [our company] Arcade to do elevated genre projects exactly like 'Hemlock Grove.' Brian McGreevy's novel blew me away, and the material lends itself perfectly to long format storytelling. 'Hemlock Grove' is smart, dark, complex, and at times terrifying," said Roth.