Netflix developing adaptation of Dark Horse comic series ‘Grendel’

Netflix has commissioned a new series based on Matt Wagner’s Dark Horse comic book series Grendel.

Andrew Dabb is to serve as writer and showrunner on the series, which is a Netflix production and comes out of the streamer’s first look deal with Dark Horse Entertainment.

It follows previous collaborations between the two companies on superhero series The Umbrella Academy, feature film Polar and upcoming animated series Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles.

Attached to executive produce are Dark Horse Entertainment’s Mike Richardson, Keith Goldberg. Chris Tongue and comic creator Matt Wagner.

Abubakr Ali will head the cast as the titular vigilante hero Grendel (aka Hunter Rose) in a series that “explores the line between hero and villain”.

Rose is a gifted fencer, writer and assassin seeking to avenge the death of a lost love, who goes to war with New York’s criminal underworld, only to realise – why beat them, when you can join them?

The supporting cast includes Brittany Allen, Julian Black Antelope, Kevin Corrigan, Emma Ho, Andy Mientus, Jaime Ray Newman, Erik Palladino and Madeline Zima.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled about the Grendel saga, one of the longest-running independent comics series, finally being translated into live-action for the screen,” said Wagner.

“Under the sharp guidance of showrunner Andrew Dabb, our incredible creative team, sure-to-be stellar cast and Dark Horse Entertainment have teamed with Netflix to produce this provocative adaptation that will bring my characters and concepts to an all new audience and yet still provide excitement and surprises for die-hard fans.”