Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s 1991 graphic novel The Sandman has been one of the streaming service’s most highly anticipated projects, and now Netflix is planning another Neil Gaiman adaptation in the form of Dead Boy Detectives.
Dead Boy Detectives is an ongoing comic book series from Gaiman and his longtime collaborator, the Eisner Award winning artist Mark Buckingham. The series follows the adventures of Edward and Charles, two ghost-detectives who are forever young boy detectives. After living out their lives and unearthing secrets that were never meant to be known, the two boys have decided to put their unique skills to use for a higher purpose.
Dead Boy Detectives is just one of the many Neil Gaiman books that has inspired an adaptation. His 1990 fantasy novel, Coraline, was the subject of a 3D stop-motion animated movie from Laika Entertainment. The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Gaiman’s lyrical 2013 novel, was adapted into an audio series featuring middle school aged actors.
The upcoming live action adaptation of Dead Boy Detectives will be produced by Gaiman and directed by John Fawcett. It is set to be a Netflix original series, though no premiere date has been announced yet.
Dead Boy Detectives is an excellent example of how Gaiman’s work stands the test of time, spanning multiple genres and generations. With his unique blend of the macabre, the fantastic, and the quirky, it’s no wonder that Gaiman’s work keeps inspiring new adaptations.