Netflix greenlights series adaptation of ‘Grendel’

Dark Horse's acclaimed graphic novel Grendel is getting a series adaptation at Netflix.

The streaming giant on Wednesday announced an eight-episode series order for Matt Wagner's popular comicbook series, which revolves around Hunter Rose, a gifted fencer, writer and assassin who goes to war with New York's criminal underworld to avenge the death of a lost love.

Abubakr Ali, whose previous credits include Power Book II: Ghost, Katy Keene, has been cast to play the lead role. Additional cast for the upcoming series includes Jaime Ray Newman (Dopesick, The Time Traveler’s Wife), Julian Black Antelope (The Flash, Debris), Madeline Zima (Californication, Hacks), Kevin Corrigan (Scenes from an Empty Church, The Get Down), Emma Ho (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Expanse), Erik Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Watchmen), Brittany Allen (What Keeps You Alive), and Andy Mientus (The Flash, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings).

Andrew Dabb (Resident Evil, Supernatural) will serve as the showrunner and executive producer along with Dark Horse Entertainment’s Mike Richardson, Keith Goldberg, Chris Tongue and Wagner.

“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," Wagner said in a statement. "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.” 

Prior to Grendel, Netflix and Dark Horse have previously collaborated on the series adaptation of The Umbrella Academy and Jonas Åkerlund’s feature film Polar, while an animated adaptation of Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles is currently underway.