Aug 21
Out Producer Greg Berlanti Bringing New Twist on 'Dorian Gray' to TV as a Series
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is about to get an even wilder update thanks to Greg Berlanti and a host of other producers. A series titled "The Grays," based on the classic story, is headed to Netflix, according to Deadline.
"Written by Katie Rose Rogers, 'The Grays' is a contemporary take on the Oscar Wilde classic about our fascination with eternal youth set against the backdrop of the modern beauty industry," Deadline detailed. "In a twist on the gothic novel, the series revolves around siblings Basil and Doran Gray."
"Fittingly, two of the project's executive producers are siblings Katie Rose Rogers ('Supergirl') and Robbie Rogers ('All American'), who worked together on the Emmy-nominated limited series 'Fellow Travelers,'" Deadline added before offering a refresher on the story's plot.
"In the 1891 novel, Basil is Dorian's artist friend who is infatuated with his beauty. After Dorian sells his soul, Basil paints a portrait of him that ages and gets distorted while Dorian – keeping his youthful, beautiful looks – descends into self-indulgent sensualism and hedonism and eventually kills Basil, along with others who try to intervene."
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" was the only novel Wilde wrote, though he was a prolific essayist, short story writer, poet, and playwright. The novel has been adapted to film at last eight times, most recently last year, when it was reimagined as a contemporary tale by director Richard John Taylor. Fionn Whitehead starred in a 2021 adaptation, while Ben Barnes played the title character in a 2009 version titled "Dorian Gray" that also stared Colin Firth. Josh Duhamel played the lead in a 2004 movie version. The story also inspired a 1996 opera.
Berlanti, who is also executive producing the series together with Lee Toland Krieger (who will direct), Rina Mimoun (who will act as showrunner), Lee Toland Krieger, and Sarah Schechter, has been involved in a number of queer-related titles on the big and small screens, including the CW's "Arrowverse" shows, "Riverdale" and "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" on Netflix, along with the film version of "Love, Simon," which he directed. His company, Berlanti Productions, produced last year's queer hit "Red, White & Royal Blue" for Amazon.
After having written and directed the 2011 movie "Green Lantern," starring Ryan Reynolds, Berlanti attempted to bring a queer-inclusive "Green Lantern" series to Max, though that project has since been abandoned.
No details are available as to casting or when "The Grays" might premiere on Netflix.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
