Comics
“Wytches” – Amazon Orders Animated Series Adaptation of Horror Comic
Beloved limited horror comic series Wytches, written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Jock, is finally set to get an adaptation.
Variety reports that Amazon ordered an animated series based on the six-issue comics published from October 2014 through March 2015.
The Image Comic series tells of 17-year-old Sailor Rook and the Rook family as they moved to a small New Hampshire town following a tragic incident. They want to start over but realize there’s an evil lying in wait in the woods just outside of town. Ancient creatures that feed on our deepest fears and hopes.
As the title indicates, it’s a horror series whose lurking evil is witches. These witches aren’t your average run-of-the-mill witches but petrifying creatures made even more nightmarish thanks to vivid art and coloring. A somewhat bleak but compelling family drama merged with a horror story that declares its brutality in issue one, it’s an addictive read.
Snyder and Jock will executive produce along with Plan B Entertainment, Project 51 Productions’ Kevin Kolde, and Amazon Studios.
“Plan B had originally intended to adapt the comics into a film shortly after the first issue was published, but it was announced that the plans had shifted to a TV series in 2021,” Variety details, highlighting the long road to adaptation for the horror series.
“‘Wytches’ is possibly my most personal work,” Snyder told the outlet. “It’s all about the monsters that dwell beneath the surface of things, both literally and figuratively. I’ve been intimately involved with this animated series from the start, and I can honestly say that I love this show as much as the book, if not more. The animation brings the incredible art by Jock to life, and the episodic format expands the world of ‘Wytches,’ taking the characters and mythology to terrifying new places. Jock and I are deeply grateful to Plan B Entertainment, Kevin Kolde, and Amazon Studios for believing in ‘Wytches’ and giving us a chance to make this show dark, personal, twisted, and very special.”
In other words, the comic’s creators are heavily involved with this upcoming animated series. Stay tuned for further details as they arrive.
Wytches #1 issue
The supernatural world of Korean folk horror movie Exhuma grows larger with the arrival of prequel spinoff webtoon Maengjong this weekend, Variety reports today.
Naver Webtoon debuts Maengjong on May 30.
The series hails from Haemuri (Olgami) and will trace the high school origins of how shaman duo Hwarim and Bonggil, played by Kim Go-eun and Lee Do-hyun in the 2024 film, came together to face occultish threats.
The story is set to begin when “Hwarim, who has been concealing her identity following a childhood encounter with a snake spirit called Jin, crosses paths with Bonggil at their school.”
Variety notes that Exhuma director Jang Jae-hyun participated in the project’s early concept stage.
“We are presenting ‘Maengjong,’ a new series capturing the appeal of the horror-occult genre, ahead of the full summer season,” said Lee Jeong-geun, Naver Webtoon’s Korea webtoon content leader. “With the high school story of Hwarim and Bonggil, who left a strong impression in the film ‘Exhuma,’ enhanced by Haemuri’s characteristic tense direction, we expect it will be a welcome work for genre fans.”
“It is meaningful that the spin-off story of ‘Exhuma,’ loved by many audiences, expands by meeting the new grammar of webtoon,” said Lee Hyeon-jeong, managing director of the film business division at Showbox, which distributed the film. “We hope it will be a fresh experience for both film fans and webtoon readers.”
Exhuma was a breakout hit in 2024, becoming the first Korean occult film to surpass 10 million ticket buyers and the country’s highest-grossing film of the year. I wrote in my review that “the intricately woven Exhuma delivers one of the year’s biggest surprises in horror so far.”
The bond between Hwarim and Bonggil was one of the film’s highlights, making this prequel webtoon a must for fans.
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