There were a lot of great shows in 2018, but none managed to surprise and scare us more than Netflix’s sleeper hit The Haunting of Hill House. Based on the Shirley Jackson book of the same name, the show follows the Crain family as they struggle to deal with the loss of their mother and the trauma of growing up in an extremely haunted house. Fans were drawn to the show like moths to a flame, and felt the sadness when it finally ended. However, there’s reason to rejoice, for there will now be another season of the show!
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the showrunner Mike Flanagan and his longtime partner, Trevor Macy have signed a five- or six-year contract with the streaming service, developing projects including a second season of this beloved show. And for those who are wondering just how they would fit another season after that stellar ending, fear not. The second season will feature an entirely new story with all new characters, turning it into an anthology series.
“Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy are masterful at creating authentically frightening stories that leave audiences on the edge of their seats but unable to look away,” said Cindy Holland, Vice President of originals at Netflix. “We’re excited to continue our partnership with them on The Haunting series and future projects to come.”
And yes, we already have a title! Announced on Twitter, the season will be called The Haunting of Bly Manor.
You guessed it. The HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR, a new chapter in the Haunting series based on the works of Henry James, is coming in 2020. pic.twitter.com/nvhRBEfH2E
— Midnight Mass (@midnightmass) February 21, 2019
For those less well-versed in horror lit, this is a reference to the darkly creepy Henry James story, The Turning of the Screw. Though I wouldn’t expect a straight adaptation of the story, as the first season certainly made a lot of changes to its source material, we can expect to be equally scared.
Flanagan and Macy are wrapping up production on another horror show, a TV adaptation of the Stephen King sequel to The Shining, entitled Doctor Sleep. However, rumor has it that production will start soon.
The Haunting of Bly Manor is set to premiere on Netflix sometime in 2020.