Charlaine Harris, the author whose Sookie Stackhouse books inspired True Blood, is setting up a new franchise. Her eight-book Aurora Teagarden series is being adapted into a movie franchise at Hallmark, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The Teagarden series was first published in 1990 with Real Murders and concluded in 2003 with Poppy Done to Death. The Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie series will become part of its all-new Original Mystery Wheel franchise, with Full House alum Candace Cameron Bure on board to play Aurora “Roe” Teagarden in the series of movies based on Harris’ character. It’s unclear just how many movies Hallmark is currently planning for its franchise, or which book it will start with.
Hallmark’s Aurora Teagarden will be produced by Muse Entertainment in association with HF Productions and iCandy Productions. Teena Booth (Cyberbully) will pen the teleplay, with Harris and Bure on board to executive produce alongside HF’s Jim Head and Muse’s Michael Prupas and Joel Rice.
The drama centers on librarian Teagarden, a crime buff, lover of mystery novels and a member of the Real Murders Club, which meets to analyze famous crimes and mysteries. Her passion and insight about true crime ends up putting her at the center of different crimes that happen in her community. She will do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of these mysteries.
“Candace Cameron Bure is part of the Crown Media family. Therefore, bringing her talent together with the mysterious world of Aurora Teagarden, from the creative mind of Charlaine Harris, is sure to become appointment viewing and a big part of our Original Mystery Wheel franchise,” said Michelle Vicary, executive vp programming at Crown Media Family Networks.
A premiere date for Aurora has not yet been determined.
