As networks begin to announce plans for the fall broadcast season, three new comic book based shows have been picked up for series: Black Lightning, Krypton, and Happy!
The CW is adding another superhero show to its roster with Black Lightning, EW reports. The series is based on Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden’s DC character Black Lightning, created for DC comics (see “First Look at 'Black Lightning'”). The CW will now have five superhero projects as part of its lineup, as Black Lightning joins Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl. The Archie Comics-based Riverdale is also airing on the CW, and was recently renewed for another season.
Syfy has picked up two new series based on comic properties: Krypton and Happy!, Deadline is reporting. The Superman prequel Krypton is based on DC characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (see “Syfy's 'Krypton' Mines Considerable Mythology”). The series is set on Superman’s home world, two generations before its destruction, and follows Superman’s grandfather who fights to save his world from chaos and restore his family’s name. The Deadline article also hinted that there may be some recasting between the pilot and the series (see “Syfy Expands 'Krypton' Cast”).
Happy! is based on a Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson miniseries published by Image in 2012 (see “'Star Trek: Discovery,' 'Vampire Chronicles,' 'Lost in Space,' 'Happy'”). The series follows an ex-cop turned hitman who bottoms out, and suddenly begins to see a tiny, cheerful, blue-winged horse everywhere.
Last week, streaming service Hulu greenlit a series order for The Runaways (see “Hulu Orders 'The Runaways' to Series”).