Sarah Snook Returns to HBO to Lead The Birds Limited Series
Sarah Snook is returning to HBO to star in a visceral, present-day reimagining of The Birds, a high-profile limited series inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 feature film and Daphne du Maurier’s 1952 novella. Deadline reported that HBO has nabbed the project for development after it was taken out by Universal Global Television over the summer. The series centers on a new female protagonist named Myra Massey, played by Snook, who returns home with her young daughter while escaping a bitter custody battle. As she secretly probes a childhood friend’s suspicious disappearance with a killer on the loose, she faces a terrifying new menace: vicious, deadly bird attacks inexplicably tied to the crime.
Creative Auspices and Studio Partnerships Behind the Project
The limited series brings together key creative auspices with deep ties to HBO, including Tom Spezialy and David Heyman. Spezialy, who executive produced HBO’s Watchmen and The Leftovers, wrote the pilot script and serves as an executive producer alongside Snook, Heyman, Danny Samit via Heyday Television, and Jennifer Gabler Rawlings of Omni Artists, according to Deadline and Variety. Universal Global Television serves as a co-studio with HBO on the project. The underlying rights to the title are controlled by Universal Pictures—which produced the 1963 film—and the du Maurier Estate. Universal Television, a sibling studio to Universal Global Television, also produces HBO’s period drama The Gilded Age.
The project marks the latest in a series of attempts to revisit the classic horror property. Universal Global Television and its predecessor Universal International Studios had the project in development for more than a year. Prior attempts to adapt the material included a 2007 feature film remake announced with Naomi Watts attached to star and Martin Campbell to direct, as well as a 2017 BBC series written by Irish playwright Conor McPherson. None of those prior iterations came to fruition.
Snook and Spezialy Bring Extensive HBO Pedigree to the Adaptation
The new role reunites Snook with HBO following her four-season run as Shiv Roy in the network’s hit drama series Succession. During her time on that show, she received three Emmy nominations and won in 2023, alongside two Golden Globe wins. She is also coming off a starring role in Universal Global Television’s Peacock limited series All Her Fault, which earned her another Emmy nomination. Beyond television, Snook won a Tony Award in 2024 for The Picture of Dorian Gray and a 2025 AACTA Best Actress Award for the animated feature Memoir of a Snail.
Spezialy shares a 2020 Outstanding Limited Series Emmy Award with the team behind HBO’s Watchmen. His recent television work includes executive producing Prime Video’s Blade Runner 2099, a television follow-up to Ridley Scott’s cinematic classic. Heyman currently serves as an executive producer on HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, with its first season debuting this Christmas, as noted by Variety.
Project Details and Background
- Star and Executive Producer: Sarah Snook stars as Myra Massey and executive produces the series.
- Creative Team: Tom Spezialy wrote the pilot and executive produces alongside David Heyman, Danny Samit, and Jennifer Gabler Rawlings.
- Studio and Network: Developed by Universal Global Television in a co-studio partnership with HBO.
- Underlying Material: Inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s 1952 novella and Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 film, with rights held by Universal Pictures and the du Maurier Estate.
Questions Regarding Production Timelines and Release
Specific premiere dates, filming schedules, and additional casting details for The Birds remain unannounced by HBO and Universal Global Television. While the project has successfully landed at the network for development following its summer market run, producers have not yet disclosed when production will officially begin.
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