Caroline Kepnes to direct psychological thriller ‘The Attentionist’

Caroline Kepnes, the bestselling author known for the ‘You’ novel series, is making her directorial debut with a new psychological thriller series titled ‘The Attentionist’. The project is an eight-episode premium short-form series being developed for YouTube.

Based on Kepnes’ 2022 short story from the horror anthology ‘Dark Stars’, the series is set in Cape Cod during the 1990s. The plot follows Maeve, an awkward 14-year-old girl, and her older sister living in a community of year-round working families and wealthy seasonal residents. The story centers on Maeve’s growing fascination with a boy she communicates with via telephone, a connection that evolves from exciting to increasingly disturbing.

Kepnes, who grew up on Cape Cod, described the project as a ‘mashup of genres’ that blends horror with family drama. Production is currently in the casting phase for key roles.