HBO Max has ordered three pilots, including a prequel to the film “Practical Magic” titled “Rules of Magic.”
“Rules of Magic” is from “Jessica Jones” duo Melissa Rosenberg and Dana Baratta. The other two pilots are the Lena Dunham-produced “Generation” and the John Wells-produced “Red Bird Lane.”
“Rules of Magic” is set the 1960s and centers on the younger versions of Franny, Jet and Vincent Owens from the 1998 film. Franny and Jet were played by Stockard Channing and Diane Weist in the film, which starred Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. HBO Max has additionally ordered a writers’ room with a 10-script order. The project is set up at Warner Bros. TV with PatMa Productions’ Nina Tassler and Denise Di Nova as executive producers.
“Generation” is co-created, co-written and co-directed by Zelda and Daniel Barnz (who directed the film “Cake”) and executive produced with Dunham and Daniel and Ben Barnz for We’re Not Brothers Productions and co-executive produced by Zelda Barnz. According to the description from HBO Max, the dark, yet playful half-hour dramedy follows a group of high school students whose exploration of modern sexuality tests deeply entrenched beliefs about life, love and the nature of family in their conservative community.
Wells’ “Red Bird Lane” is a psychological horror series about eight strangers who arrive at an isolated house–all for different reasons–and quickly realize that something sinister and terrifying awaits them.