Caroline Kepnes, creator of the bestselling “You” novels and the Netflix series of the same name, is making her directorial debut with a new project titled “The Attentionist.” Kepnes will both write and direct the series, which she is adapting from her own 2022 short story of the same name. The story originally appeared in Tor Nightfire’s horror anthology “Dark Stars.”
The eight-episode first season is set during the 1990s in a Cape Cod neighborhood inhabited by both year-round residents and part-time summer visitors. The narrative centers on a 14-year-old girl named Maeve and her older sister who seek entry into the exclusive world of the waterfront elite. Their aspirations appear to materialize through a secret phone relationship with a boy from the local boat club, but the interaction takes a disturbing turn when the person on the line reveals sinister intentions. The developing situation pulls Maeve’s family into increasingly dark circumstances.
The series is produced by Mark Roberts and Lorena David and will be shot on location in Cape Cod, where Kepnes grew up. The project is currently in the casting phase for key roles. Production will include cinematographer Michael Lloyd, production designer Stephonik, costume designer Brianna Murphy, and casting director Joseph Middleton.
The series will debut on YouTube as part of a broader slate announcement expected in the coming days. Kepnes’ “You” franchise has achieved significant success, encompassing five books and a five-season Netflix adaptation starring Penn Badgley. Her most recent novel, “You First,” was released in June and explores Joe Goldberg’s origins as a 17-year-old in post-9/11 New York City. Kepnes previously worked as a pop culture journalist for Entertainment Weekly and contributed to television series including “7th Heaven” and “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.”
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