Dahlia (TV Series)

Dahlia is an American supernatural drama series created by Shonda Rhimes and J.J. Abrams.

It stars Alexandra Daddario as Elizabeth 'Dahlia' Short, a young actress who is murdered in 1947 who haunts the Baltimore Hotel in Los Angeles (Loosely based on the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles).

The show follows a group of ghost hunters (J.K. Simmons, Cole Sprouse, Bridgit Mendler) in 2017 attempting to find who killed her in order to help her pass over, using the evidence gathered by a couple who previously investigated it 30 years earlier (Selma Blair, Eli Roth). Frances Conroy also stars as Regina Black, the long-time manager of the hotel.

The show is inspired by the real life murder of Elizabeth Short and the sightings of her spirit in the Biltmore Hotel.

Background
Shonda Rhimes and J.J. Abrams initially met at the 2016 Emmy Awards and discussed the prospect of working together. Later that month, Rhimes approached Abrams with a script based on the Black Dahlia murders. The pair developed the script and it was the first pilot to be greenlit for the 2017/18 season.

The first season was initially ordered 6 episodes but this was more than doubled shortly before production began to 13 episodes.

Alexandra Daddario was cast as Elizabeth Short in January 2017 alongside J.K. Simmons as Professor Harold Short, her great nephew, Cole Sprouse and Bridgit Mendler were then cast as his two students Alex and Marie.

It was confirmed at the ABC Upfronts that the show would be set in 3 different time periods, 1947, 1987 and 2017. The only cast member who would feature in all three time periods woud be Daddario confirmed Rhimes, while Frances Conroy had been cast as Regina Black and would appear in both 1987 and 2017 scenes. Selma Blair and Eli Roth would portray cold case detectives Angela and Marvin in the 1987 scenes.

Filming started in March 2017 and concluded in June, the series premiered on ABC on September 18th 2017 to a positive reception and high ratings.

Cast
Alexandra Daddario as Elizabeth Short, the Dahlia, a young actress who was mysteriously murdered in 1947. She was known for her tight black dresses and wide smile.

Frances Conroy as Regina Black, a former actress turned hotelier, she has worked at the hotel sine the early 70s.

J.K. Simmons as Harold Short, the son of Elizabeth's brother Christopher and a professor of paranormal investigation.

Cole Sprouse as Alex Walters, a college student with a particular interest in the paranormal, he also harbours feelings for Marie.

Bridgit Mendler as Marie Schmidt, a college student in Harold's class, she conceals her feelings towards Alex.

Selma Blair as Angela Mills, a cold case detective who begins investigating the Dahlia murder at the Baltimore Hotel.

Eli Roth as Marvin Arches, Angela's partner with a painful connection to both Dahlia and the hotel.