Home Entertainment Live-action TV series for Marvel’s Runaways in development at Hulu

Live-action TV series for Marvel’s Runaways in development at Hulu

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For about as long as there has been a Marvel Cinematic Universe, there’s been an attempt to adapt “Runaways” from comic page to screen. Created in 2003 by acclaimed writer Brian K. Vaughn and artist Adrian Alphona, “Runaways” followed six misfit kids who do not get along, who discover that their parents are secretly supervillains who are part of an evil criminal empire known as The Pride, when they stumble in on their folks attempting a human sacrifice in a dark ritual. I mean, who hasn’t ever suspected their dad or mom was secretly a bloodcurdling comic book villain, right?

With a hook like that and a perfect blend of humour, coming-of-age teenage angst and wacky adventures, the book has been a gigantic hit with fans ever since, with plenty of the characters – many of whom inherited their parents’ gifts – becoming firm fan favourites. So it was no surprise that Marvel Studios wanted to adapt this, initially setting Vaughn himself to script before Drew Goddard (The Cabin In the Woods, The Martian, Marvel’s Daredevil) pen a screenplay. Over the years, we’ve heard numerous reports about how good that screenplay was, and before he got got given the keys to the kingdom with The Avengers, Joss Whedon was even rumoured to be in talks to direct after he actually penned a volume of the comic himself. And yet… no movie. Well, it seems we’re never getting that movie now, because Runaways is becoming a TV series instead!

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Deadline reports that in a weird twist, Marvel have partnered up with Hulu (who are kind of direct competitors to Netflix, which produces the bulk of Marvel’s shows) to develop a live-action TV series adaptation. Gossip Girl and The OC co-creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage will be serving as showrunners, with this pitch apparently coming out of a series of conversations the duo had with Marvel’s TV division over the last year. That probably means that whatever was in Goddard’s almost mythical script will now probably be tossed aside.

Schwartz explained that “I’m a long-time fan of Runaways and couldn’t be more excited to bring Brian and Adrian’s characters to life,” while Savage added that “Josh and I can’t wait to get to work for Marvel and Hulu.” Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb, who will also act as producer, had this to say about the new show.

“We’ve known the ‘Runaways” story would make great television and being lucky enough to have Josh and Stephanie — who have time and again created shows that speak so genuinely to this exact audience — write and produce the series is nothing short of remarkable.”

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Currently, Marvel have only placed an order with Hulu for a pilot episode, but they’ve also ordered additional scripts with the goal of it being picked up a for a full season. With that, it’s still way too early to start casting the six Runaways, who – duh- run away, so that they can take down their own parents.

Though the character roster has changed slightly over the years, the original six were team leader Alex Wilder, the son of Mafia bosses who was also a natural tactical genius; Nico Minoru, the daughter of dark wizards who has the ability to use any spell, but only once; Karolina Dean, the daughter of solar-powered alien invaders; Molly Hayes, the superstrong and invulnerable, and very young and innocent daughter of mutant telepaths, Chase Stein, the son of mad scientists who steals his parents’ high tech gear to help the Runaways stay hidden; and Gertude Yorke, the daughter of time-traveling crminals, who has a telepathic link to her pet… a genetically engineered dinosaur from the 87th century named Old Lace.

Last Updated: August 18, 2016

2 Comments

  1. Random series to pick up, they really feel like an abstract branch of the marvel universe.

    This series is going to be like the Teen Wolf or Twilight of the Marvel cinematic universe.
    Teen drama with super powers.

    Reply

  2. Milesh Bhana

    August 19, 2016 at 08:00

    haven’t read this, but everything I’ve read by Brian K Vaughn has been excellent! (Y and Saga… wow).

    Really surprising they went with Hulu for this.

    Reply

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