Blumhouse has announced that it has acquired the screen rights to James Tynion and Werther Dell’Edera’s acclaimed comic book phenomenon Something is Killing the Children, with the studio developing both live-action feature film and adult animated series adaptations of the Boom! Studios comic series.
Launching in 2019 and going on to sell over 5 million copies to date, Something is Killing the Children takes place in a word where children can see monsters but adults cannot, and follows Erica Slaughter, a monster hunter from a mysterious organization more concerned with keeping the secret of monsters from the world than saving their victims.
“It’s easy to see why audiences and critics alike have praised Something is Killing the Children,” said Jason Blum, Blumhouse CEO and Founder. “James and Werther’s comic book series taps into our most primal fears, luring us into a fascinating world and introducing Erica Slaughter, the ass-kicking hero we all wish we had to fight the monsters that lurk in the dark.”
“Something is Killing the Children is the comic book that changed my life and career forever.” added writer James Tynion IV. “Finding a partner who understood the potential of Erica Slaughter and world Werther Dell’Edera and I have built was crucial, and we have found that partner in Jason Blum. Nobody understands horror better than Blumhouse, and I can’t wait for the world to see what we all have planned together.”
Tynion will serve as executive producer on the animated series, as well as producing the feature film alongside Jason Blum of Blumhouse.
The rights to Something is Killing the Children had previously been at Netflix, where both Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) and Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese (Dark) had tried their hands at bringing the comic to life.