Netflix Lands Cult-Classic Horror Masterpiece for Planned Series

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Charles Burns is a highly respected comic book creator who has been working for over forty years. He’s best known for Black Hole, a series that ran for over a decade before being published as a complete graphic novel in 2005, where it quickly became a fan favorite. Now, this critically acclaimed story is being adapted into a TV series, with the show going straight to production.

New Regency will produce the series, with Netflix co-producing. Jane Schoenbrun, the creator and showrunner known for the critically acclaimed film I Saw the TV Glow, will also direct. Erin Levy and Plan B will serve as executive producers on the project.

What is Black Hole about?

Last month, while highlighting horror comics (with recommendations from creators like Phil Hester, who suggested Black Hole), we were struck by how brilliantly simple Charles Burns’ Black Hole is. The story centers around a sexually transmitted disease spreading among teenagers in the Seattle area in the mid-1970s, which physically transforms those infected—turning them into monstrous, or at least mutated, versions of themselves. Some of these changes are more noticeable than others.

The official description for Netflix is as follows:

Roosevelt appears to be a flawless small town, but it’s plagued by an old, frightening story. Legend says that if you become sexually active too early, you’ll catch a virus – nicknamed ‘the bug’ – that transforms you into a terrifying monster based on your deepest fears. Chris never believed it, until a single night during her senior year leaves her infected. Now, she faces exile to the woods with others who have the virus, but a new, horrifying danger arises: a killer is systematically hunting them down.

How long have fans been waiting for Black Hole to be adapted?

Robert Burns’ writing has always felt cinematic, and discussions about a movie adaptation began almost immediately after the graphic novel came out – some people predicted it could happen as early as 2006! Initially, Alexandre Aja was set to direct, with a screenplay co-written by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary. The production companies involved included Plan B, alongside MTV Films and Paramount Pictures.

In 2008, David Fincher initially considered directing the film with a revised script. However, he chose to work on The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in 2010 instead. He revisited the project three years later.

New Regency originally intended to adapt the story as a film with director Rick Famuyiwa (known for his work on Dope), but that plan didn’t work out. Now, they’re developing it as a television series, and the project has been greenlit directly to series – meaning it didn’t need a pilot. Several other streaming services were also interested, demonstrating continued strong interest in the story. After a long development process, it’s now confirmed that the series is moving forward, which fans will be excited to hear.

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2025-10-24 21:16