5 Upcoming and Rumoured Comic Book Adaptations We Can’t Wait to Watch

Whether you’re a superhero fan or a lover of all comics, we’re so excited about these five upcoming comic book adaptations.

Comic book adaptations are everywhere these days, from The Sandman to The Boys, Revival, and so on. We could list dozens of outstanding adaptations. There are so many amazing shows and movies based on the masterworks of the comic book medium. In this post, we look at 5 adaptations that are currently in development.

Be warned, while these are still in development, it’s possible that they might not make it to our screens. But we’re hopeful.

Barbaric 

Netflix is officially making a live-action adaptation of Vault Comics’ epic fantasy comic created by Mike Moreci and Nathan Gooden. The series follows a ruthless and crass barbarian is cursed to only use his violence only for good, which sends him, his talking axe and a young witch on a road of self discovery, redemption and revenge.

Sheldon Turner (X-Men: First Class) is showrunning and co-executive producing with Jennifer Klein (Armageddon).

That Texas Blood

Image Comics‘ bestselling, fan-favorite neo-noir Western, That Texas Blood by writer Chris Condon (Of the Earth, News from the Fallout) and artist Jacob Phillips (Everything Dead & Dying, Newburn) is being developed by FX for a drama series from Jim Mickle (director, showrunner, and writer of Netflix’s Sweet Tooth) and E.L. Katz (co-executive producer and producing director on Netflix’s The Haunting of Bly Manor). Both comic creators Condon and Phillips are also serving as co-executive producers.

That Texas Blood has cultivated some big comparisons to many of the biggest creatives and franchises out there. It’s been likened to the works of Cormac McCarthy and John Carpenter, drawing comparisons to Breaking Bad, Yellowstone, and No Country for Old Men. The series follows Sheriff Joe Bob Coates of Ambrose County, Texas, who questions his place in a violent world, when a man returns home following the sudden disappearance of his brother, causing a spiral down into a past filled with treachery and blood. The success of the comic also saw it spawn a prequel series, titled The Enfield Gang Massacre.

BRZRKR

In March 2021, Netflix announced that they were developing a live-action film adaptation and a follow-up anime series based on BRZRKR — the best-selling comic book series written by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt, and illustrated by Ron Garney.

The series follows B; an immortal, half-mortal, half-god being with an unwavering thirst for violence, and his own death. B. is weaponised by the US government.

The BRZRKR series has garnered massive praise from critics. So far, the core series comprises of 12 issues, and there’s been several spinoff projects such as Poetry of Madness, Fallen Empire, and A Faceful of Bullets.

For the live-action film, Keanu Reeves will play the lead. He’s also set to produce.

Invincible (the live-action movie)

Robert Kirkman’s beloved superhero comic Invincible already has an amazing adaptation in the form of Prime Video’s animated series. But the series is also being adapted for the big screen. The upcoming movie has a lot of talent behind it, with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg reportedly involved. Kirkman himself is also helping develop the picture.

While updates been slow recently, Kirkman himself has confirmed that the movie is still being made. During a roundtable attended by The Direct, he confirmed that things are still progressing nicely. “It’s still in development,” he said. “We’re still working with Universal. You know, the show is going so well. I think the movie absolutely has to be perfect. And so it’s taking a lot of time, like getting the pieces aligned and getting everything to work so that we can come out and make it as good as it can possibly be.”

We’ll absolutely be seated when it premieres. Who would you cast as Mark Grayson and Omni-Man?

A new Archie Comics movie

Archie Comics is returning to our screens in the form of a feature film at Universal, produced by Spider-Verse team Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The two also previously worked on 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie.

In addition, acclaimed comics creator Tom King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow) will pen the scripts. As for what the story entails, no details have been revealed. Emma Watts will produce, along with Archie Comics CEO and publisher Jon Goldwater.

“We are longtime fans of Archie, Veronica, Betty and the gang in all of their iterations. When we heard Tom King’s take on the classic material, we instantly thought it made sense as an event movie for all audiences — both lifelong fans and a whole new generation. We’re so excited to bring these beloved characters to the big screen,” Lord and Miller said, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

Archie Comics has been around for almost a century (beginning its journey in 1939), becoming one of the biggest publishers in the industry. The comics have a rich history on-screen, too, starting with The Archie Show (1968–1969). Other animated projects would follow over the decades, namely Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

These are still early days, but we’ll keep you updated on how things progress!

Criminal

Based on the best-selling comics by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, Criminal is coming to Prime Video as an 8-episode series. Brubaker will serve as co-showrunner and executive producer on the series along with Jordan Harper.The story follows multiple generations of criminal families, exploring the murders that connect their pasts.

Cast members include Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy), Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Garrett Hedlund (Tulsa King), Chris Diamantopoulos (The Boys in the Boat), Lawrence Kao (Walker: Independence), Kyle Bradley Davis (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Aina Brei’yon (Dark Matter), Robert Lee Hart (Chicago PD), Katie Stevens (The Bold Type), and John Pyper-Ferguson (Suits).

Developments on the series has gone quiet in recent months, but Criminal is on the way.

Psychic Sam

Legendary comic scribe Mark Millar is teaming up with Kick-Ass partner John Romita Jr. for Psychic Sam, a comic about a man who knows about murders before they happen.

Launched on Kickstarter, Psychic Sam focuses on a man, Sam Nicoletti, who has the strange ability to know about murders before they happen, with a voice in his head telling him the name and address of future killers. The comic marks the reuniting of Millar with John Romita Jr. The duo first worked together on Wolverine, before finding immense success with their comic Kick-Ass — which also had a successful blockbuster movie adaptation.

The official synopsis reads: SAM NICOLETTI hears a voice in his head the day before something bad happens. The voice tells him the name and address of a murderer and if he ignores this voice an innocent person dies. At first he thought he was crazy, but as the bodies start building up, he realises he needs to do something and, after a while, he hears about a murder that’s SO HORRIFIC he needs to intervene.

After the success of 2010 movie Kick-Ass, and Millar’s subsequent work at Netflix, it’s only natural that Psychic Sam would get similar treatment. Filmmaker Ivan Atkinson (Wrath of Man, Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant) is already on board to develop the comic as a feature movie.

On X, Millar weighed in on how the project came about. “A short while ago, Marvel asked me if I’d come back and write a big summer crossover,” he wrote. “Around the same time, DC asked if I’d do a huge Superman story for them. Being a fanboy, both invitations were very interesting and I carved out 12 weeks in my Millarworld schedule. But when I sat down to write, at the end of last year, my brain went in a completely different direction that involved neither Marvel nor DC.”

What upcoming comic book adaptations are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments down below!