Lifetime Announces “Flowers in the Attic: The Origin” Official July Airdates and ATX TV Festival World Premiere [VIDEO]

Lifetime, the exclusive home of movies inspired by books from best-selling author V.C. Andrews, announces the premiere dates for the prequel limited series Flowers in the Attic: The Origin. The limited series airs consecutively over four weeks, starting @ 8/7c on Saturday, July 9 and concluding on July 30.

The world premiere of the miniseries will take place as the finale event of the ATX TV Festival in Austin, Texas on June 5. The premium series stars Jemima Rooper (Gold Digger) as Olivia Winfield Foxworth and Max Irons (Condor) as Malcolm Foxworth, parents to Corinne Foxworth, and grandparents to Cathy and Chris Dollanganger. The star-studded cast for the four-part series event also includes Tony® Award winner, three-time Golden Globe winner and five-time Primetime Emmy® Award winner Kelsey Grammer (Frasier), four-time Golden Globe nominee and Primetime Emmy nominee Harry Hamlin (Mad Men), People’s Choice Award nominee Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries), Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award-nominated and Critics’ Choice Television Award winner Kate Mulgrew (Orange is the New Black), Critics’ Choice nominee Alana Boden (I Am Elizabeth Smart), Hannah Dodd (Harlots), T’Shan Williams (The Color Purple), Callum Kerr (Four Weddings and a Funeral), Luke Fetherston (Pandora) and Buck Braithwaite.

One of the most popular authors of all time, V.C. Andrews launched a pop culture sensation with the gothic tale Flowers in the Attic. Flowers in the Attic: The Origin peels back the curtain to reveal the twisted origin and dark secrets of the Foxworth family. Lifetime recently announced the acquisition of rights and licenses to the entire V.C. Andrews catalog, including all new releases. Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, recently released the newest V.C. Andrews novel, Becoming My Sister, out now.

Flowers in the Attic: The Origin tells the story of the headstrong and determined Olivia Winfield (Rooper) who is working alongside her beloved father, Mr. Winfield (Hamlin), when she finds herself unexpectedly wooed by one of the nation’s most eligible bachelors, Malcolm Foxworth (Irons). After a whirlwind romance, Olivia finds herself as the mistress of the imposing Foxworth Hall, where she soon discovers that the fairytale life she expected has quickly become a nightmare. Under Malcolm’s debonair exterior lies a dark heart, and a twisted evil lurks inside Foxworth Hall that will threaten Olivia’s happiness and that of her children. Her attempts to keep them all safe ultimately push Olivia to become to most terrifying version of herself, leading to her inevitable – and notorious – decision to lock her grandchildren in the attic…
Part 1, airing July 9 @ 8/7c, introduces Olivia Winfield as she gives up her career, her home, and her name to become Mrs. Malcolm Foxworth, the wife of the nation’s richest man. Leaving behind her father, when she arrives at her new home, Olivia soon realizes that life at Foxworth Hall is far from the fairytale she imagined it would be and begins to question the choices that led her down this path of eventual destruction.

Part 2, airing July 16 @ 8/7c: As Olivia and Malcolm’s family grows in unexpected and questionable ways, she is committed to giving them a childhood full of joy and safety, no matter the cost. However, her efforts prove to be futile as she battles the evils of Foxworth Hall, and her husband’s twisted obsession over a family secret severs their relationship even further.

Part 3, airing July 23 @ 8/7c: After a devastating and unimaginable loss that will haunt her for the rest of time, Olivia finds both her son and daughter in forbidden relationships. She opposes their unions, but as she tries to hold on, more destruction finds her and pushes her further to her breaking point. Finally, blood is on her hands as an old foe’s fate waits to be revealed.

Part 4, airing July 30 @ 8/7c: After losing all her children due to tragedy and tension, Olivia’s newfound religious beliefs instilled in her by her cousin, and her desire to wreck vengeance on those around her, drives her to become the most notorious and terrifying version of herself; a woman capable of locking her grandchildren in the attic upon the return of her daughter after tragedy strikes the family once again…

Dodd stars as Olivia’s daughter, Corinne; while Williams takes on the role Foxworth Hall’s longtime staff member and Olivia’s observant housekeeper, Nella Jennings. Mulgrew plays Mrs. Steiner, Malcolm’s loyal house manager and head of the Foxworth Hall staff. Grammer portrays Malcolm’s illustrious father Garland Foxworth, who is married to new wife Alicia, played by Boden. Wesley stars as John Amos, Olivia’s cousin whose revelations change her life forever. Callum Kerr stars as Christopher, a close relative of the Foxworth family whose life will be eternally intertwined with Corinne’s from the moment they set eyes on each other. Luke Fetherston and Buck Braithwaite star as Malcolm and Olivia’s sons Joel Foxworth and Mal Foxworth, respectively. Additional talent starring in the four-part miniseries event includes Jordan Peters, Evelyn Miller, Rawdat Quadri, Emmanuel Ogunjinmi, David Witts, Carla Woodcock, and Peter Bramhill.

Additionally, Lifetime will have 14 titles from the V.C. Andrews movie collection available on-demand and TV Everywhere platforms starting 6/1 through 8/31. Titles are also currently available on Lifetime Movie Club and for two weeks from 6/17 – 6/30, FAST Channel Movie Favorites By Lifetime will feature the full V.C. Andrews Library. Available titles include Dark Angel, Fallen Hearts, Gates of Paradise, Web of Dreams, Heaven, Flowers in the Attic, Petals in the Wind, Seeds of Yesterday, If There Be Thorns, My Sweet Audrina, Ruby, Pearl in the Mist, All That Glitters and Hidden Jewel.

Flowers in the Attic: The Origin is an A+E Studios production in association with Sutton St. Productions and CBS Studios. Paul Sciarrotta serves as executive producer. Jennie Snyder Urman and Joanna Klein serve as executive producers for Sutton St. Productions and CBS Studios. Zoë Rocha serves as executive producer for RubyRock Pictures, Gary Pearl executive produces for Aquarius Content and Dan Angel executive produces. Declan O’Dwyer also executive produces and directed part one and part two of the miniseries. Robin Sheppard serves as director for parts three and four. Scripts are from executive producer Paul Sciarrotta, as well as Amy Rardin and Conner Good. Flowers in the Attic: The Origin is based on the prequel novel, Garden of Shadows by Andrew Neiderman. The miniseries were made with support of the Romanian Government.

Andrew Neiderman has carried the V.C. Andrews franchise for the past 35 years, making him one of the most prolific ghostwriters in history. V.C. Andrews is one of the longest, consistently published book franchises in American publishing history with more than 40 years of novels, 107 million copies sold worldwide, and a cult following. V.C. Andrews’s novels have been adapted into over 19 films, 18 by A+E alone, with more in development.