A new television adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 film The Birds is in development, with climate change serving as a central theme. The remake, announced nearly 60 years after the original’s release, aims to reinterpret the story by incorporating contemporary environmental issues.

The project is a collaboration between Universal International Studios and Heyday Television. Australian actress Sarah Snook, known for her Emmy-winning role as Shiv Roy in the HBO series Succession, has been announced as the lead. The series is currently being presented to potential buyers.

Sue Gibbs, head of development at Heyday Television, discussed the remake during a SXSW London event last June, describing it as “looking at when nature turns on you,” with climate change at its core. She highlighted the timeliness of the theme, noting the shift from Hitchcock’s portrayal of aggressive birds to a narrative that links their behavior to environmental disruptions.

The original film was loosely based on Daphne du Maurier’s 1952 short story, which depicted a rural community in Cornwall being attacked by violent flocks of birds. Du Maurier’s story reflected post-World War II anxieties about invasion and government inadequacy in protecting citizens. Hitchcock’s adaptation relocated the action to California and has often been interpreted as an allegory for Cold War paranoia and the looming threat of nuclear conflict.

This new series is part of a broader trend in Hollywood, where filmmakers increasingly address climate change through genre storytelling. Notably, Adam McKay’s 2021 satirical film Don’t Look Up used a celestial disaster allegory to examine political and societal responses to environmental crises.

The adaptation of The Birds with an environmental focus reflects ongoing efforts to reframe classic narratives through the lens of current global challenges. Further details regarding the series’ production timeline and release have not yet been disclosed.