Hulu is moving forward with a television series adaptation of V. Castro’s acclaimed 2023 horror novel The Haunting of Alejandra, with Steven Paul Martinez attached as writer and executive producer. The project, which is in development at the streamer, brings together a powerful team of executive producers including Eva Longoria, horror director Gigi Saul Guerrero, and Cris Abrego. For fans of literary horror that tackles real-world issues through the lens of the supernatural, this adaptation promises to deliver something truly special.
The news comes as V. Castro’s novel continues to gain recognition for its unique blend of Mexican folklore and raw, emotional storytelling. Unlike typical haunted house stories, The Haunting of Alejandra uses horror to explore themes that many readers find deeply personal and relatable.
What Is ‘The Haunting Of Alejandra’ About?
At its core, V. Castro’s novel tells the story of Alejandra, a woman who appears to have it all but is secretly falling apart. She is a wife, a mother of three, and a lawyer currently on maternity leave. But beneath the surface of her upper-middle-class life, Alejandra is struggling with a darkness that feels impossible to explain to those around her .
Her husband is absentmindedly cruel. Her children are demanding. And she finds herself drowning in despair, hearing whispers that call her a “difficult woman” and a “sick woman.” The horror becomes literal when a ghostly figure begins appearing to her—the crying woman in a ragged white gown, known in Mexican legend as La Llorona .
What makes the story stand out is how it connects Alejandra’s personal pain to something much older. As she starts therapy with a counselor named Melanie Ortiz who also practices as a curandera (a spiritual healer), Alejandra begins uncovering her family history. She learns that the weeping woman has haunted the women in her bloodline for generations, from the 17th century forward. Each of her ancestors faced the same demon, and each was consumed by the darkness .
But the novel is not just a story of despair. It is also about empowerment and breaking cycles. Alejandra discovers that she has inherited not only trauma but also strength from the women who came before her. She must summon that courage to banish La Llorona forever and save herself and her children.
The Creative Team Bringing the Story to Screen
Steven Paul Martinez takes the lead as writer and executive producer on the Hulu adaptation. Martinez is best known for his work on television, having been staffed for two seasons on the CBS series So Help Me Todd . Before that, he served as a producer on the long-running CBS series Bull, where he got his start in television writing. His feature film Stealing Santa is currently set up at Paramount, showing his range across different genres .
The project comes from 20th Television, which serves as the studio behind the adaptation .
Eva Longoria and Gigi Saul Guerrero Among Executive Producers
The executive producer lineup reads like a who’s who of talented creators who understand both horror and Latinx storytelling.
Eva Longoria and Cris Abrego are producing through their company Hyphenate Media Group. Longoria needs no introduction—she has built an impressive career both in front of and behind the camera. Through Hyphenate, she has worked on series including Nexaca, Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain, and most recently the Apple TV+ series Land of Women . She is also set to direct the upcoming Kim Kardashian comedy The Fifth Wheel for Netflix.
Gigi Saul Guerrero and Raynor Shima join the team through their company Luchagore Productions. Guerrero is a name that horror fans should know well. She is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker who made her feature directorial debut with Culture Shock as part of the Hulu/Blumhouse Into the Dark series . That film landed her a first-look film and television deal with Blumhouse, and she has since built an impressive resume.
Last year, Guerrero wrote and directed El Lazo De Petra, a short film shot on iPhone for Apple, which has garnered over 87 million views on YouTube. She has also directed episodes of The Purge for USA/Syfy and directed the pilot for La Hora Marcada at Vix . She was previously attached to direct Santa Muerte for Screen Gems and 10/31 for Orion Pictures.
V. Castro, the author of the novel, will serve as a producer on the series, ensuring that the adaptation remains faithful to the spirit of her work .
What Makes the Novel Resonate With Readers
Since its release in April 2023, The Haunting of Alejandra has built a strong following among horror readers and critics alike. Kirkus Reviews called it a “surprisingly moving, piercingly effective parable about exorcisms of all sorts of demons” .
What readers connect with most is how the book uses horror to explore very real struggles. One library staff review noted, “The Haunting of Alejandra is a twist of generational curses with modern mental illness women encounter in their motherhood journey. In the end, Alejandra is able to complete her journey and heal” .
Another reader drew a clever comparison, saying, “If you liked the Barbie movie, but your tastes normally run a bit darker, you will really enjoy this book. Alejandra’s feeling pretty crappy about herself. Part of it is feeling like a bad mother and wife, but she doesn’t realize that her…” .
Academic reviews have also praised the novel. A review published through Minnesota State University, Mankato describes the book as “a powerful portrayal of postpartum depression and generational trauma through the lens of horror and magical realism” .
La Llorona: The Legend at the Heart of the Story
For those unfamiliar with Mexican folklore, La Llorona (the Weeping Woman) is one of the most enduring legends in Latin American culture. According to the myth, she was a woman who drowned her children in a fit of rage or despair after her husband betrayed her. Realizing what she had done, she drowned herself as well. Now her spirit roams near bodies of water, crying out for her children and sometimes posing a danger to the living .
In Castro’s novel, La Llorona represents something more complex. She is not just a ghost story but a manifestation of generational pain, depression, and the weight of expectations placed on women and mothers. As one reviewer put it, “Castro’s remarkable balancing act juxtaposes the emotional turmoil of a bad marriage and depression against the very real and visceral horrors swirling around Alejandra, painting with dripping, peek-between-your-fingers menace” .
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What to Expect From the Hulu Series
While the project is still in development and no casting announcements have been made yet, the creative team suggests the series will honor both the horror elements and the deeper themes of the novel. The fact that Gigi Saul Guerrero is involved—a director known for her distinctive visual style and ability to blend Latinx culture with horror—bodes well for the adaptation.
The series is described as blending psychological horror with social commentary, exploring Mexican mythology through a contemporary lens . Given that the novel alternates between Alejandra’s present-day story and flashbacks to her ancestors from the 1600s onward, the series has the potential to be a sweeping, multi-generational horror epic .
For fans of V. Castro’s work, this adaptation represents an exciting opportunity to see her unique voice reach a wider audience. Castro, who was born in San Antonio, Texas to Mexican American parents and now lives in the UK, has been writing horror stories since childhood, always fascinated by Mexican folklore and Texas urban legends . Her previous works include The Queen of Cicadas, The Goddess of Filth, and a tie-in novel for the Aliens franchise.
As Hulu continues to build its library of original horror content, The Haunting of Alejandra sits alongside other successful adaptations of literary horror. The streamer has found success with projects that combine genre elements with character-driven storytelling, and this series fits that mold perfectly.
For more horror news and streaming updates, keep reading VvipTimes for the latest developments on this chilling adaptation.
