Netflix lands series adaptation of Charles Burns’ ‘Black Hole’ graphic novel
Following an intense bidding war with other streaming outlets, Netflix has finally snapped up the rights for Black Hole, Charles Burns’ best-selling graphic novels.
Netflix reportedly bought the project from New Agency, which holds the rights to Black Hole. Both studios will work together on the series adaptation, with Plan B and Erin Levy serving as executive producers (via Deadline).
I Saw the TV Glow writer-director Jane Schoenbrun will adapt the story for Netflix and direct it. Additionally, Black Hole will mark Schoebrun’s first TV series. Black Hole was originally published in 12 issues between 1995 and 2005, which were eventually collected for a graphic novel series. It primarily follows a teenage group who get infected by a sexually transmitted disease, causing physical mutations.
Meanwhile, the Netflix synopsis reads, “There’s an old myth that haunts the seemingly perfect small town of Roosvelt: If you have sex too young, you’ll contract the ‘bug,’ a virus that literally turns you into a ‘monster’ from your worst nightmares. Absurd, right? That’s what Chris always assumed, until, after one reckless night at the beginning of the senior year, she finds herself infected.” As is tradition, she will now be sent to the woods to live with the other infected, where a serial killer is hunting them one at a time.
Before Netflix acquired the rights for the Black Hole series, it went through several intermittent attempts as a feature film adaptation. In fact, Alexandre Aja and David Fincher were supposed to direct movies based on the graphic novel at various points in time. New Regency only landed the rights to the comics in 2018, planning to develop a film with director Rick Famuiya and Plan B. However, that didn’t materialise.
For Netflix’s Black Hole, Schoenbrun serves as the creator, writer, and director. Executive producers include Plan B, Erin Levy, New Regency’s Yariv Milchan, Arnon Milchan, Natalie Lehmann, Laura Delahaye, and Bruns.
Besides I Saw the TV Glow, which was a six-time nominee for Independent Spirit Awards, Schoenbrun was also attached to We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, which they wrote and directed. Moreover, they also directed the documentary A Self-Induced Hallucination. Their upcoming feature starring Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, is currently in post-production. CAA, Entertainment 360, and Jackoway Austen represent Schoenbrun.