Single White Female's Bridget Fonda with a Gun

Programming heads are apparently a nostalgic bunch because reboots and revivals have been ruling television all year. Everything from the ‘70s mini-series Roots to beloved early '00s dramedy Gilmore Girls have received a second chance on screen, and titles like Star Trek, The X-Files, and 24: Legacy are already in the pipeline for 2017 premieres.

Film-to-TV adaptations have also seen a rapid turnover. Horror classic The Exorcist, ‘80s-launched action franchise Lethal Weapon, and Steven Spielberg’s 2002 cyberpunk project Minority Report are among the many movies that received the serial treatment in 2016.

Now, Single White Female has tacked on to the revival craze. According to The Hollywood Reporter, NBC is developing the 1992 erotic thriller for television, with Eric Garcia attached to executive produce and pen the script. The drama, which has received a script commitment, is being described as a “modern-day reboot.” It will take place in San Francisco, as opposed to the original film’s New York setting. Here’s the summary provided to THR:

“When erstwhile con-artist Hedra uses her professional connections to target Allie, a seemingly moneyed colleague in search of a roommate, Hedra slowly begins to realize that her mark may not be quite as innocuous as she first seems. Soon, viewers will come to understand that Hedra may have met her match in Allie, making viewers question who is really being ‘single white female’d.’"

Hedy in Single White Female

The original movie, written by Don Roos and directed by Barbara Schroeder, starred Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It similarly featured Hedra (Leigh) as Allie’s (Fonda) deranged new roommate, but while Allie certainly pushed back against Hedra’s maniacal scheme, she was very clearly aboveboard. Based on the description, it sounds like the line between Allie and Hedra will be far blurrier in the show.

Reception to the series will be interesting to follow, as film-to-TV adaptations have been hit or miss. Both CBS’ Rush Hour reboot and Fox’s Minority Report were canceled after only one season, while The Exorcist and still-in-progress Lethal Weapon have fared better. Single White Female’s success will also depend on audiences’ hunger for the story. Though the film was financially solid, it received mixed critical reviews, and its 2005 direct-to-video sequel was largely panned. Christian E. Christiansen’s 2011 entry, The Roommate, drew wide comparisons to Single White Female as a “cheap remake,” which could suggest a similar narrative won’t be well received. However, with a fresh angle and talented cast, the series could be a surprising hit.

No further details or release date have been announced for Single White Female at this time.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter