A live-action TV series based on the influential superhero comic strip “The Phantom” is in the works, Variety has learned.
Reginald Hudlin (Boomerang, House Party) will direct and produce the show, which is in the development stage at King Features (“The Cuphead Show”).
Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The Phantom was first published by Lee Falk in 1936. A predecessor to Batman, the titular “Ghost Who Walks” is commonly credited as the first costumed superhero.
The character was previously the subject of the 1943 serial The Phantom, the 1986 animated series “Defenders of the Earth,” the 1994 animated series “Phantom 2040,” the 1996 feature The Phantom starring Billy Zane, and Syfy’s 2009 miniseries “The Phantom.”
Owned by Hearst, The Phantom franchise boasts a global readership of more than 29 million. The most recent comic launched last year from Mad Cave Comics.
“The development of a live-action series for the iconic comic strip ‘The Phantom’ marks a pivotal expansion to meet the current cultural zeitgeist for this brand,” said King Features president C.J. Kettler. “By partnering with award-nominated director Reginald Hudlin, who possesses a deep reverence for the comic industry and source material itself, we are confident this adaptation will meet the high expectations of both longtime and new fans globally.”
Along with his work in film and TV, Hudlin is a veteran of the comics industry. He previously wrote for Marvel’s Black Panther and is co-owner of the DC-distributed comic book company Milestone Media.
