Rumors began circulating that Netflix saved Joe Hill‘s “Locke & Key” adaptation after Hulu passed on the pilot. Immediately after, I started receiving angry emails and tweets from an anonymous source claiming that Netflix wasn’t just picking up the pilot, but recasting and completely retooling the series in order to cater to children. The source was livid, leading me to believe it was someone close to the production, possibly related to one of the actors being recast. Since I wasn’t able to confirm, I just let it be. Well, where there’s smoke there’s fire…
In Deadline’s article confirming Netflix’s acquisition, they verify exactly what I was told: “Sources said that Netflix would be licensing the rights to the IP, not picking up the existing Hulu pilot to series, and the project will undergo redevelopment, including recasting of two of the three Locke children.”
While my informant was angry, this isn’t actually bad, it’s just business. Netflix saw potential in the pilot, but wanted changes in order to cater to their audience. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. In fact, I welcome any changes that allow this long-gestured series to finally get off the ground.
The only real casualty is that It director Andy Muschietti, who helmed the Hulu pilot, is working on the film’s sequel, so he will not be available to direct the new version for Netflix. But he will serve as an executive producer on the series, along with Barbara Muschietti as well as Carlton Cuse, who has been instrumental in the project’s efforts to find a new home, via his Genre Arts production company. Ted Adams and David Ozer executive produce for IDW Entertainment.
Written by Hill, “Locke & Key” revolves around three siblings who, after the gruesome murder of their father, move to their ancestral home in Maine with their mother Nina (Frances O’Connor), only to find the house has magical keys that give them a vast array of powers and abilities. Little do they know, a devious demon also wants the keys, and will stop at nothing to attain them. Staying on from the three young actors playing the siblings is It co-star Jackson Robert Scott.
The Hulu pilot’s cast also included Nate Corddry, Samantha Mathis, Owen Teague and Danny Glover.
Locke & Key was ordered to pilot in April 2017, before the top management changes at Hulu. Deadline added this bombshell: the surprising pass on the pilot came after Hulu’s creative team, who had supported it, had given the project a blinking green light — setting up a full writers room that produced 6-7 backup scripts and having the sets built with everyone ready to go.
This marks a happy ending for Locke & Key, which previously was adapted during the 2010-11 development season when it reached the pilot stage at Fox with Josh Friedman writing, Mark Romanek directing and Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci producing alongside DreamWorks TV.
