Deadline brings word that The Conjuring writers Chad and Carey Hayes are developing a new horror film franchise, which will revolve around the infamous LaLaurie Mansion in New Orleans. The Hayes brothers are partnering with Cindy Bond and Doug McKay’s newly formed Faster Horse Pictures to produce the planned franchise.
“We love writing films in which we get to tell true stories – incorporating moments that people can look up and discover did in fact happen. With the LaLaurie House we get to do exactly that. There is a wealth of documentation of a very dark and frightening past of true events. Not to mention that after spending some time there, what we personally experienced was truly unnerving,” the Hayes brothers said in a statement.
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The LaLaurie Mansion is being considered as one of the world’s most haunted places. Its dark and sinister reputation was caused by former owner and resident Madame Delphine LaLaurie, who had performed various acts of violence, abuse, torture, mutilation and murder towards her black slaves within mansion.
In 1834, police officers and citizens had finally discovered the racist socialite’s evil doings when a fire broke out in the mansion which had forced the LaLauries to exposed the conditions of their slaves. However, LaLaurie was unfortunately never been punished for her heinous crimes because she had quickly made her escaped to Paris after the mansion fire.
Interestingly, one of the previous owners was Oscar winner Nicolas Cage, who had once lived in the mansion in 2007 as a way of getting inspired to write a horror novel. In Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story, LaLaurie was re-imagined as a character in the show’s third season Coven with award-winning actress Kathy Bates earning an Emmy nomination for her incredible portrayal of the notorious serial killer.
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The property still hasn’t been open to the public since 1932 but due to Faster Horse Pictures’ connection with current owner Michael Whalen, the Hayes brothers have already visited the mansion and are considering to write the first draft of the screenplay inside the mansion.
”Building a horror franchise starts with the IP, and for us to be able to tap the LaLaurie Mansion, and its twisted history, is a major coup for Faster Horse,” Bond said.
McKay added, “The LaLaurie Mansion is as scary a place as there is in the world and we won’t hold back in giving audiences the full effect. Chad and Carey will have their hands full, but they are true masters in cinematic retellings of disturbing material”
The films will also be produced by McKay, Bond, and Whalen along with Joshua Ryan Dietz and Dylan Bond set to serve as executive producers. Local historian Andrew Ward has board the project as a consultant.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
