Halfire Entertainment, CBC, and Netflix today announced that cameras are rolling on the screen adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace. The Alias Grace miniseries stars Sarah Gadon (Indignation, 11.22.63); Academy Award-winning Canadian-born actress Anna Paquin (True Blood, Roots), Zachary Levi (Chuck, Tangled), Paul Gross (Hyena Road, Due South), Edward Holcroft (Kingsman: The Secret Service, London Spy), Kerr Logan (Game of Thrones, London Irish), Rebecca Liddiard (Houdini & Doyle), and David Cronenberg.
The six-hour Alias Grace miniseries is inspired by the true story of Grace Marks, who was convicted of murdering Nancy Montgomery and Thomas Kinnear. The Alias Grace miniseries is written and produced by Sarah Polley (Take This Waltz, Away from Her) and directed by Mary Harron (American Psycho, I Shot Andy Warhol). The miniseries continues production in Toronto and across Ontario until mid-November. Alias Grace will be broadcast in Canada on CBC and globally – everywhere outside of Canada – on Netflix.
The Alias Grace miniseries follows Grace Marks (Gadon) a poor, young Irish immigrant and domestic servant in Upper Canada who, along with stable hand James McDermott, was convicted of the brutal murders of their employer, Thomas Kinnear (Gross) and Nancy Montgomery (Paquin) in 1843. Nancy is Kinnear’s housekeeper and lover, and while she initially befriends Grace, she begins to resent Grace and becomes increasingly jealous of Kinnear’s affection for her. Nancy eventually fires Grace in a fit of rage and is later found brutally murdered.
“After almost 20 years of dreaming of bringing ‘Alias Grace’ to the screen, it is beyond thrilling to see it all come together with such an amazing cast and crew,” says Polley.
“‘Alias Grace’ is both a chilling true-life murder mystery and a story about the immigrant experience,” adds fellow Executive Producer Noreen Halpern. “I am both delighted and honored to be a part of this project of such scale and scope, pairing an impeccable literary pedigree with a creative team comprised of the very best talent. And to be the first co-commission between CBC and Netflix is truly icing on the cake.”
The Alias Grace miniseries is co-commissioned by CBC and Netflix, produced by Halfire Entertainment and created by Sarah Polley. The executive producers are Sarah Polley, Mary Harron, and Noreen Halpern. Producing alongside Polley is D.J. Carson.
