Apple has announced that they're moving forward with ARE YOU SLEEPING, a thriller drama series project starring Octavia Spencer courtesy of Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine banner. Created and written by Nichelle Tramble Spellman (THE GOOD WIFE, JUSTIFIED, WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB), the scripted drama based on the true-crime novel by Kathleen Barber has been put into development at Apple's video programming department.
ARE YOU SLEEPING will join a growing list of projects set for Apple's streaming service alongside the straight-to series morning show featuring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, the reboot of AMAZING STORIES from Steven Spielberg, and Bryan Fuller and Ronald D. Moore's planned space drama. And these are just the projects that we know about, so far. Word has it that several other programs are being considered for straight-to-series orders as well.
According to Deadline Hollywood, ARE YOU SLEEPING provides a unique glimpse into America’s obsession with true-crime podcasts and challenges its viewers to consider the consequences when the pursuit of justice is placed on a public stage. Sarah Koenig, host, creator and producer of the true-crime podcast phenomenon Serial, whose breakout success helped fuel that obsession, is on board to consult on the series.
In addition to starring in the new show, Spencer will also executive produce in a partnership with Tramble as well as Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine, and Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Kristen Campo for Chernin Entertainment.