AMC is in the early stages of developing Gothictown, a horror series adapted from author Emily Carpenter’s upcoming novel. British-Nigerian writer and producer Abby Ajayi, creator behind Riches, has signed on to lead the project as showrunner, writer, and executive producer, per Deadline.
Ajayi, celebrated for her compelling storytelling and knack for suspense, will adapt Carpenter’s eerie family drama for AMC. Gothictown, set for publication on March 25, 2025, is described as an “immersive Southern Gothic” that combines elements reminiscent of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.
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The story follows Billie Hope, a New York City restaurateur lured to the small town of Juliana, Georgia, by a too-good-to-be-true offer. For just $100, she can purchase a historic Victorian home and receive a grant to open a new restaurant, part of the town’s “Juliana Initiative” aimed at revitalizing the community after the pandemic. At first, Billie believes she’s found the perfect escape, but as her family settles in, a sinister undercurrent in the town’s charm becomes impossible to ignore. Soon, Billie realizes that Juliana’s warm façade may be hiding something far darker—and escaping might be much harder than she imagined.
This adaptation arrives through AMC’s first-look deal with Stephen Love’s Made With Love Media, a production company that brought us They Cloned Tyrone on Netflix and is currently working on A24’s Notes from a Young Black Chef with LaKeith Stanfield.
Ajayi brings a powerful resume to Gothictown, having developed high-stakes dramas like How to Get Away with Murder and The First Lady. Her talent for crafting suspenseful, character-driven narratives makes her a natural fit for adapting Carpenter’s Southern Gothic tale to the screen.
Stay tuned as AMC unveils more about Gothictown and its take on this haunting new series in the months ahead.