The Cutler Series - The Next V.C. Andrews Film Adaptation

After the success of Flowers in the Attic: The Origin - the prequel to V.C. Andrews' notorious Gothic Horror - Lifetime are continuing their tradition of adapting the works of Virginia Andrews and her ghostwriter Andrew Neiderman.

The Cutler series was penned by Andrew Neiderman and chronicles the twisted tale of the Cutler, Longchamp families. Production is underway on Dawn, the first instalment to the Cutler saga. and earlier this week, PEOPLE confirmed the cast and creatives who have been attached to this four-part film series.

Brec Bassinger (DC’s Stargirl) will take on the titular role of Dawn - who begins the series as the daughter of a humble and hardworking family, only to discover her life and family are shadowed in secrets and lies. From the book's synopsis, V.C. Andrews fans can expect a dark and complex cast of characters that will be introduced in Dawn:

In her fine new Virginia school, Dawn Longchamp feels happy and safe. But nothing is what it seems...

Now Dawn and her older brother Jimmy have a chance for a decent, respectable life, and Dawn's secret, precious hope to study singing can come true. Philip Cutler, the handsomest boy in school, sets Dawn's heart on fire. She is deeply devoted to her brooding brother; but with Philip, she imagines a lovely dream of romance...

Then Dawn's mother suddenly dies, and her entire world begins to crumble. After a terrible new shock, she is thrust into a different family and an evil web of unspoken sins. Her sweet innocence lost, humiliated and scorned, Dawn is desperate to find Jimmy again and...strip away the wicked lies that will change all their lives forever!

Lifetime has confirmed they will be adapting the first four books of the Cutler series - Dawn, Secrets of the Morning, Twilight's Child and Midnight Whispers - as feature-length movies. Author Andrew Neiderman has recently confirmed the fifth novel and prequel to the Cutler saga Darkest Hour has entered development to be adapted.

Alongside Bassinger, several other key cast members have been announced. Jesse Metcalfewill (best known for the teen classic John Tucker Must Die) will portray Ormand Longchamp, Dawn's adoptive father, while Emmy Winner Donna Mills (General Hospital) stars as Dawn’s estranged grandmother, the villainous Lillian.

Joey Mclntyre (who starred in the off-Broadway production of Jonathan Larson's Tick, Tick... BOOM!) and Fran Drescher (The Nanny) are also confirmed to appear. Drescher will play Agnes Morris, an out-of-work actress who is the house mother at Dawn's performing arts school. Meanwhile, McIntyre has been cast as singing teacher and Broadway star Michael Sutton.

Additional casting includes Jason Cermak as Randolph Cutler, Miranda Frigon as Laura Jean Cutler, Elyse Maloway as Clara Jean, Dane Schioler as Philip Cutler, Khobe Clarke as Tricia and Helena Marie as Sally Longchamp. Further casting announcements for the following three films should be announced as production continues.

Linda-Lisa Hayter is set to direct the first two movies Dawn and Secrets of the Morning, and Jacquie Gould will direct Twilight's Child and Midnight Whispers. Georgy Small and Richard Blaney serve as screenwriters for the first three movies and Allison Lea Bingeman will be the screenwriter for the fourth movie Midnight Whispers.

Small and Blaney have previously penned screenplays for the Landry and Casteel adaptations. Bingeman was previously attached to pen Tarnished Gold, the prequel to the Landry saga. Due to filming restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic while the Landry films were in production, the fifth film was shelved indefinitely.

The Cutler Film Event will span four respective weeks. As of yet, there is no premiere date, but we should expect a Summer 2023 air date based on previous V.C. Andrews TV premieres.

The V.C. Andrews Dawn Cutler Movie Event is produced by VC Secrets Productions Inc. with Merideth Finn, Michele Weiss, Timothy Johnson and Stacy Mandelberg serving as executive producers. Finn and Weiss also executive produced Lifetime's Flowers in the Attic (2014) and Petals on the Wind (2014).