If you’re a big comic book nerd that grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s (like myself, I’m old…), you probably are familiar with the independent superhero/villain, Grendel. The “Grendel” comics might not have risen to the level of like a Marvel or DC character, but his striking image and expert writing/art from Matt Wagner led to the character developing a big cult following. Now, decades later, “Grendel” is getting its own Netflix adaptation.
According to Netflix, the studio is moving ahead with a series adaptation of the comic book, “Grendel.” And not only that, the streaming platform has announced the cast and creators that will be bringing the character to life. For those unaware of the classic comics, here’s the synopsis for the series:
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“Based on Matt Wagner’s groundbreaking comic book series, Grendel follows Hunter Rose, a gifted fencer, writer and assassin as, seeking to avenge the death of a lost love, he goes to war with New York’s criminal underworld, only to realize…why beat them, when you can join them?”
Leading the way in the cast, playing the character of Hunter Rose, is Abubakr Ali, who is probably best known for his work in the series, “Power Book II: Ghost” and “Katy Keene.” He’ll be joined in the ensemble cast by actors such as Jaime Ray Newman (“Dopesick”), Julian Black Antelope (“The Flash”), Madeline Zima (“Californication”), Kevin Corrigan (“The Get Down”), Emma Ho (“The Expanse”), Erik Palladino (“Watchmen”), Brittany Allen (“What Keeps You Alive”), and Andy Mientus (“The Flash”).
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“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 comic book creator, Matt 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. I’m especially excited to see Abubakr Ali bring the character of Grendel/Hunter Rose to life—he has the charisma, style, and vital edginess that I’ve been envisioning in the role for years.”
“Grendel” is set to be written-produced-showrun by Andrew Dabb, who is probably best known for his work on “Resident Evil” and “Supernatural.” The eight-episode first season doesn’t have a release date yet, and it’s unclear when production might start. However, a 2022 debut seems likely, since they’ve already announced the cast.