The Birds is an upcoming drama series that was officially picked up by HBO. Deadline reports that actress Sarah Snook (Succession, Run Rabbit Run), has officially been announced as the main lead in the series, starring as Myra Massey.
The writer, creator, and showrunner for HBO’s The Birds is Tom Spezialy (The Leftovers, Watchmen). David Heyman (Apples Never Fall, Harry Potter) from Heyday TV and Jennifer Gabler Rawlings (Red Dog, Captain Fantastic) from Omni Artists, are also credited as the executive producers of the show.
The show will follow Myra returning to her isolated hometown in Alaska. Myra returns as she tries to solve a cold case of her childhood friend, along with the mystery revolving around a wave of hostile bird attacks.
The Birds was first adapted into a movie film on March 28, 1963, that was directed by Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho, To Catch a Thief). The film is one of the most recognized horror movies in cinema. The film had grossed over 11 million dollars at the box office, and was nominated for Best Special Effects at the 36th Academy Awards.
The upcoming limited series and The Birds film are both inspired by English novelist Daphne du Maurier’s (Rebecca, Jamaica Inn) original horror short story of the same name, The Birds. The TV series will not be adapted from the 1963 film.
Along with Snook starring in the lead role of the show, she is also credited as an executive producer of the series. Snook is returning to HBO after her success from playing as Shiv Roy in award-winning dark comedy-drama, Succession. Her most recent work was starring as Marissa Irvine in Peacock’s mystery thriller All Her Fault.
Snook also appeared on Broadway from 2024-2025, playing as Dorian Gray in The Picture of Dorian Gray, written by Kip Williams (Dracula, The Maids). Snook’s performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray lead her to win the 2025 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
The Birds is a limited series currently still in early development at HBO.