Hulu Orders Series Based on '80s Film Black Widow

Hulu is teaming up with The Dropout creator Elizabeth Meriwether again for the Black Widow series. The network has ordered a drama series from Meriwether that's loosely based on the 1987 film Black Widow. Emmy Rossum is also an executive producer and is in talks to play one of the leads.



The untitled series follows an FBI agent who uses secrets from a female serial killer’s past to track her down. Rossum (pictured) would play the FBI agent if her acting deal goes through.

In 1987’s Black Widow — no relation to the Marvel character played by Scarlett Johansson — Debra Winger played the FBI agent and Theresa Russell the murderess, who married and murdered wealthy men to collect inheritances.

New Girl creator Meriwether previously created and directed The Dropout , based on the story of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, for Hulu; the drama earned lead actress Amanda Seyfried an Emmy and was nominated for best limited or anthology series. Meriwether also received a nomination for writing. She also co-created (with Kim Rosenstock) Dying For Sex for FX, which will stream on Hulu.

Rossum starred in the limited series The Crowded Room on Apple TV+ and starred in and executive produced Angelyne — based on a Hollywood Reporter profile of the L.A. icon — for Peacock. She also executive produced 2023’s Three Women for Starz.

Disney’s 20th Television and Searchlight Television are producing the series. Meriwether will serve as executive producers alongside Rossum and her Composition 8 partner Sara Moskowitz and Ron Bass, who wrote the 1987 film.