Horror icon Pinhead may continue his exploration of pain and pleasure in a "Hellraiser" television series, according to Variety.

Sonar Entertainment will spearhead the project, co-developing it with Eric Gardner of Panacea Entertainment. Gardner will executive produce the show along with Larry Kuppin, whose company New World Entertainment launched 1987's "Hellraiser" and 1988's "Hellbound: Hellraiser II."

"I've spent more time in film than in television, and I see that a lot of values of film, which are great writers, great directors, are becoming more and more relevant in television," said Stewart Till, Sonar Entertainment chief executive.

The original "Hellraiser," written and directed by Clive Barker, became an instant cult classic when it hit theaters. It was based on Barker's 1986 novella "The Hellbound Heart."

As it expands its production-distribution business, Sonar Entertainment is looking ahead to "developing new concepts, content and formats, in different genres and with a variety of partners," said Gabriel de Alba, company chairman.

Also in the works is an eight-hour "King Tut" miniseries, an action-drama series "MPH" and a two-hour backdoor pilot inspired by Joshua Williamson's graphic novel "Mirror Mirror."

"The gap between an okay show and a great show is getting bigger and bigger, and our obsession going forward will be to find high quality shows that people really want," Till explained. "If you look at our slate, you'll see shows that have either a great brand name like 'King Tut' or 'Hellraiser' that arrive with a recognition, a build-in marketing platform and/or a great writer like 'MPH' with Steven E. De Souza."

Barker is currently penning an official sequel to "The Hellbound Heart" called "The Scarlet Gospels," which places Pinhead at odds with private investigator Harry D'Amour, a character seen in several of the author's works, including the short story "The Last Illusion" and later in "Everville."