Netflix's Something Is Killing The Children: Everything We Know So Far
Netflix may not have a big superhero franchise, but they are absolutely in the comic book adaptation business. To that end, the streaming service is currently developing a TV show based on the best-selling Boom! Studios comic "Something Is Killing The Children." The series, which comes from writer James Tynion IV ("Batman") and artist Werther Dell'Edera ("Punisher War Journal") has been met with widespread acclaim, as well as massive sales numbers rarely seen outside of Marvel and DC Comics. That being the case, it's the perfect title to become a big streaming series.
The book was originally published in 2019 and was nominated for an Eisner, ultimately paving the way for the series to become an ongoing title, rather than the five-issue miniseries it was originally intended as. Boom! has also since published a spin-off titled "House of Slaughter," which also saw huge sales upon release. That being the case, there is much potential for Netflix to mine here as the adaptation comes together behind the scenes. Here is everything we know about the show so far.
What is Something Is Killing The Children about?
"Something Is Killing The Children" largely takes place in a town called Archer's Peak, with Erica Slaughter as our protagonist. Things are largely set in motion when children from the town begin to disappear, not altogether unlike Stephen King's "It" — though we're not dealing with a clown in a sewer here. It's a tale of mystery, monsters, and yes, a fair amount of killing. The official synopsis for the comic reads as follows:
When the children of Archer's Peak begin to go missing, everything seems hopeless. Most children never return, but the ones that do have terrible stories—impossible stories of terrifying creatures that live in the shadows. Their only hope of finding and eliminating the threat is the arrival of a mysterious stranger, one who believes the children and claims to see what they can see. Her name is Erica Slaughter. She kills monsters.
As mentioned, the book was originally only supposed to last five issues, so the story has expanded greatly across 30 issues (and counting) that have now been published. Not to mention the even greater expansion of that story in "House of Slaughter."
The creators of Dark are behind the show
Originally, Netflix lined up an adaptation of "Something Is Killing The Children" in 2021, with Mike Flanagan ("Haunting of Hill House") and Trevor Macy ("Gerald's Game"). However, they departed the series in 2022 just before it was revealed that Flanagan and Macy were leaving Netflix for a new deal at Amazon Studios. Luckily, it didn't take the streaming service too long to find a replacement to head up the show in the form of duo Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese. While those names may not be familiar to viewers, their output is certainly on the radar for a great many horror fans.
Bo Odar and Friese are behind the much-beloved sci-fi series "Dark," as well as the short-lived "1899," both of which had a home on Netflix. The streaming service opted to renew the overall deal the duo has with them, and it just so happens they had the perfect project to get things started. According to a report from Deadline, bo Odar and Friese will develop the adaptation of the series, picking up where Flanagan and Tracy left off. It is also worth noting that the multi-year deal they signed with Netflix is said to be worth eight figures, so this project figures to be a high priority for all involved.
The writer and artist of the comic are involved
Another important detail is that James Tynion IV and Werther Dell'Edera will both be involved in bringing their beloved comic to the small screen, as they will serve as co-executive producers. No word on whether or not they will have a hand in writing or any other duties involved in adapting the material, but they will at least have their voices heard throughout the process. Additionally, Stephen Christy and Ross Richie of Boom! Studios are on board as executive producers.
This is just part of a bigger deal between Boom and Netflix
Marvel is locked up at Disney and DC is controlled by Warner Bros. That being the case, everyone else in the entertainment business has to look elsewhere if they want to get into the comic book adaptation game. Netflix, on that front, signed a first-look deal with Boom! Studios back in 2020 in the hopes of finding the next big comic book franchise elsewhere. The streaming service is also producing an adaptation of Keanu Reeves' comic "BRZRKR," for example, and there is surely more to come.
The point is, "Something Is Killing The Children" is surely just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the relationship between Boom! and Netflix. Now, Boom! doesn't have an interconnected superhero universe like Marvel or DC, so we aren't likely going to see many crossovers with this deal. But it's still important to understand that this is part of a much larger business relationship.
When will Something Is Killing The Children be released?
As of this writing, there is no word on how soon "Something Is Killing The Children" will actually be released, though it will probably not be until late 2024 or 2025. This is because, as of now, there is no word on who will be writing the adaptation, nor is there any word on casting or anything like that. There is still much work to be done and a long road ahead. So viewers shouldn't expect to see this one come to fruition anytime soon.