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Freeform Reimagining Dante's Inferno as TV Series
Freeform is moving ahead with an adaption of Dante’s Inferno for a new drama series. Regarded as one of the most important works of Western literature, Inferno is part of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, an epic 14th-century poem. Intriguing readers for several centuries, the Divine Comedy is divided into three parts, Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The epic poem follows the poet Virgil as he passes through all three stages of the afterlife.
Considered a masterpiece of medieval literature, Dante's Divine Comedy (the Inferno is the most well-known part of the epic poem) has been a source of creative inspiration for centuries. Dante's work has been referenced in many popular film and television titles, including Clerks 2, Arrow, Se7en, Hannibal, and Inferno. The epic poem is a representation of the soul’s journey towards God, and Dante’s work is best described as an allegory, with Inferno describing in gruesome detail the consequences of sin. Although the original subject matter is not for the faint of heart, Freeform has decided to tackle the renowned poem and give it a fresh face for the twenty-first century. Recently, Freeform has made big changes to their slate of TV shows with the cancellation of Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists and Cloak and Dagger. On the heels of canceling two high-profile series, Freeform is diving into a unique concept that could be the network's next successful series.
According to Deadline, Dante’s Inferno will be a modern-day reimagining of the 14th-century epic poem. Set in present-day Los Angeles, Freeform's Inferno will center on Grace Dante, a 20-year-old anchored down by life’s misfortunes. With a drug-addicted mother and troubled brother, Grace has sacrificed her time, friendships, and dreams to support her family. One day, Grace's life changes as her dreams unexpectedly start coming true. Marveling at her sudden transformations in school, career, and love, Grace learns that the bestower of her good fortune is the Devil himself. To outwit the Prince of Darkness, Grace will have to journey through Dante’s Inferno.
Helmed by Showtime's Sleeper Cell executive producers Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris, Inferno is in the creative hands of writers Nina Fiore and John Herrera, who previously worked on The Handmaid’s Tale and The Purge. Danielle Claman Gelber (Chicago) will produce along with a team from Studio 71. As production for Inferno moves ahead, more details will be revealed, including the pivotal casting choice for the titular protagonist.
Dante’s Inferno remains one of the most compelling literary works of all time. Even after more than half a millennium, it's still a source of obsession for theological experts and readers alike. Previously, modernized adaptations of classic literature such as 10 Things I Hate About You, Easy A, and Clueless have revamped the words of William Shakespeare, Nathanial Hawthorne, and Jane Austen for a new generation. It remains to be seen how the latest adaptation of Dante’s classic will unfold, but no doubt the reimaging of Dante’s Inferno will be an interesting challenge for Freeform.
