Netflix's Red Rose: Plot, Cast, and Everything Else We Know

Sorry, Stephen King fans, this isn’t the miniseries reboot you’ve been hoping for. Not to be confused with the King novel or 2002 miniseries adaptation,Red Roseis a new horror seriesfrom BBC andNetflixcoming soon. It will follow a group of teens who download an app that seems controlled by an evil entity, trying to force them to commit acts and threaten them if they don’t.

The series comes from the minds of Michael and Paul Clarkson, well-known for their other Netflix horror series,The Haunting of Bly Manor.Deadlineconfirmed the streamer had won both the international and domestic rights to the series in 2020. At that time, it was set to begin production in June, but the global pandemic put those plans on hold. The series is co-produced by eOne and Eleven.

Though it will take some time forRed Roseto be available, here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming horror series.

Red Rose: The Plot

With no trailer or teaser out, all we have is the synopsis to clue us into what horror awaits our screens. It looks like summer vacation may be taking a turn for the worse for some teens in the United Kingdom. The main character, Rochelle Jones, downloads a mysterious app that causes her and her friends' summer to turn upside down.

Set in the long hot summer following GCSEs, our heroes’ friendships are infiltrated by the Red Rose app, which blooms on their smartphones, threatening them with dangerous consequences if they don’t meet its demands. The app exposes the group to a seemingly supernatural entity and the seductive, terrifying power of the dark web.

The immediate thought that comes to mind is the app seems eerily similar to internet challenges that have gone viral in recent years. The “Blue Whale Challenge” was an online phenomenon that encouraged teens around the world to participate in challenges over the span of 50 days. These challenges steadily got worse over time, with the last one being particularly harmful. While the challenge appears to have been created after discussions of tragic deaths in Russia, the details connected to it are similar to how the Red Rose app is described. It remains to be seen what the app could make them do, but based on the show’s branding as a horror, it probably won’t be picking flowers or helping the elderly across the street.

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The synopsis also mentions the dark web. The dark web houses many things, but could it house the creator of the Red Rose app? Potentially. Films likeUnfriended: Dark Webexplore what lurks beneath the surface online, from sinister “games” to places to purchase anything your heart desires. Is there a group of people on the dark web selecting thechallenges for the app? Are certain teens or groups of people targeted to install it? These answers remain to be seen, if they’re answered at all, but they are a good starting point to speculate where the series could go.

Red Rose: The Cast

The cast list was recently announced and includes some newcomers to the silver screen. Amelia Clarkson (The Last Kingdom), Isis Hainsworth (Metal Lords), Ali Khan (Halo), Ashna Rabheru (Sex Education), Adam Nagaitis (The Terror), Ellis Howard (Catherine the Great), Samuel Anderson (Doctor Who), and Natalie Gavin (Line of Duty) are set to appear in the series. Stage actors Harry Redding and Natalie Blair are also in the cast, makingRed Rosetheir television debut.

Release Date

The series is currently filming in Bolton, North West England. It is confirmed to have eight parts, though it isn’t known how soon it will reach Netflix. It will likely arrive next year, maybe as early as next summer. It will be available on Netflix and aired on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three when it’s released.

Related:13 Scariest Scenes from The Haunting Series That Terrified Us on Netflix

Everything Else We Know

Michael and Paul Clarkson are no amateurs when it comes to creating content for streaming services. In addition to Netflix’sThe Haunting of Bly Manor, they’ve been involved withHBO Max’sHis Dark Materials(which also aired on BBC) and Amazon Prime’sThe Wheel of Time. While their work with other streamers has been fantasy-based, they’ve proved their success with horror.The Haunting of Bly Manor, the second installment ofThe Hauntinganthology series, doesn’t fall into typical horror clichés and was well-received by audiences, so we can hope the same can be said forRed Rose.

In 2021,Netflix and BBC announcedthey were partnering to create dramas that featured disabled individuals, specifically those who are neurodivergent, deaf, and/or disabled, in front of and behind the camera. This was released after the collaboration between the two was confirmed forRed Rose, meaning it isn’t clear if this initiative will also apply to the horror series. Due to the production delays caused by the pandemic, it could, but as of now, it isn’t known.

While you wait forRed Roseto be released, be careful of the apps you download and steer clear of the dark web.