A new adaptation of the Italian horror comics series Dylan Dog is heading to the small screen.
James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Bonelli Entertainment will produce a Dylan Dog TV series, “chronicling the exploits of its titular British paranormal investigator, who takes on cases that usually involved monsters, ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and zombies.” No network or streaming service has scooped up this project, but with Wan involved I could see the likes of HBO Max, Netflix, or AMC jumping on this.
In a statement, Wan said:
“Dylan Dog is truly one of my favorite comic books ever. I was first introduced to the Nightmare Investigator back in high school by my European friends. And though I didn’t understand the foreign text, I easily understood the story through the beautiful artwork, and its loving references to the horror genre. I’m excited to team with Sergio Bonelli Editore to bring this to life on screen.”
Dylan Dog is envisioned as 10-episode live-action series. The comics were previously adapted in the 2011 box office bomb Dylan Dog: Dead of Night, starring Brandon Routh. I haven’t read any of the comics or watched the movie (although, it does sound familiar), but I think the concept is interesting, even if I want to draw comparisons with Constantine to it).
In other comic book adaptation news, HBO Max has ordered a pilot for DMZ, based on the DC Comics series of the same name by Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli.
Described as a futuristic drama, DMZ is “set in America during a second civil war, which has turned Manhattan into a demilitarized zone, destroyed and isolated from the rest of the world.” It “chronicles the harrowing journey of a fierce female medic who saves lives while desperately searching for her lost son. But as she contends with the gangs, militias, demagogues and warlords that control this lawless no man’s land, she becomes the unlikely source of what everyone here has lost: hope.”
Roberto Patino (Westworld, Sons of Anarchy) will serve as showrunner, writer and executive producer, while Oscar nominee Ava DuVernay, who also has New Gods in the works for the DC Extended Universe, will direct and exec-produce.
Filming is set to begin in early 2020. If it’s picked up there’s a good chance that it will air later that year on the streaming service.
Only one can exist. Would you rather see a Dylan Dog or DMZ series come to life?
