HBO and A24 are developing a television adaptation of “Angel Heart,” the 1987 neo-noir psychological horror film that later became a cult favorite, according to Deadline.
The report states that Zac Efron is attached to star and executive produce, while “Black Rabbit” creator Zach Baylin is writing the series and serving as an executive producer. “Shogun” director Jonathan van Tulleken is also expected to direct multiple episodes.
HBO and A24 Revisit One of the 1980s’ Darkest Cult Films
The original “Angel Heart” was directed by Alan Parker and adapted from William Hjortsberg’s 1978 novel “Falling Angel.” Blending detective noir with supernatural horror, the picture followed private investigator Harry Angel as a missing persons case dragged him from New York into a nightmarish spiral involving occult rituals, murder and demonic revelations in New Orleans.
Although the movie struggled commercially upon release in 1987, it gradually built a reputation as one of the more influential genre films of its era. Mickey Rourke’s performance as Harry Angel and Robert De Niro’s unsettling turn as the mysterious Louis Cyphre became central to the title’s legacy, while its feverish atmosphere and twist ending helped cement its cult status over the decades.
The hit also became notorious before its release because of a ratings battle with the Motion Picture Association of America. Director Alan Parker was forced to trim footage from a scene involving Lisa Bonet in order to avoid an X rating. The dispute only added to the movie’s notoriety and contributed to its reputation as one of the more provocative studio backed horror pictures of the 1980s.
Details about the HBO adaptation remain under wraps, including whether the series will closely follow the events of the original film or return directly to Hjortsberg’s novel for inspiration. The involvement of A24, however, suggests the project could lean heavily into psychological horror and prestige television territory rather than straightforward genre nostalgia.
The series also marks another major television move for Efron, who received strong reviews for his performance as wrestler Kevin Von Erich in A24’s “The Iron Claw.”
