Gary Dauberman Hopes His Live-Action GARGOYLES Series Will Feel “Very Similar” to the Animated Classic

Disney’s live-action Gargoyles project is slowly taking shape, and writer Gary Dauberman is making it clear that he wants it to feel just like the beloved ‘90s animated series fans still love.

In development under the watch of James Wan and Dauberman who’ve teamed up before on Annabelle, The Nun, and the It adaptation. the new Gargoyles series is aiming to keep the spirit of the original alive.

Speaking with Variety, Dauberman shared his thoughts on where he’s trying to take the story:

"Oh, yes, another beloved piece of IP. This new iteration of Gargoyles…The show was already pretty dark in that it was serialized, it was a mature thing, it’s operatic and the story was so epic.

“I’m hoping it’s very similar to the vibe that you got when you were watching it back in the late ’90s. I just loved that half hour of television, falling into their world. I’m hoping we achieve that. It’s a lot of fun, though — it’s a thrill."

The original animated series, created by Greg Weisman, stood out because it didn’t talk down to its audience. It was rich, dark, serialized and way more sophisticated than anyone expected from an after-school cartoon.

It told the story of a clan of ancient gargoyle protectors cursed to sleep in stone for a thousand years, only to awaken in the heart of modern New York City after a wealthy businessman, David Xanatos, rebuilds their castle atop a skyscraper.

Led by Goliath, the clan had to figure out life in a world completely foreign to them, fighting both modern threats and the demons of their past. The cast of characters — Goliath, Demona, Hudson, Brooklyn, Lexington, Broadway, and their faithful hound Bronx — gave the show its heart.

Naturally, hearing Dauberman wants to capture that same vibe is encouraging... but there's a twist that’s raising some eyebrows. A brief synopsis for the reboot leaked earlier, and it hinted at a pretty drastic change:

"Based on the cult classic Disney animated series, Goliath is the last of a heroic race of gargoyle warriors who once lived among mankind. Free from a centuries long curse that turned him into stone, Goliath struggles to solve the mystery of his past while watching over modern-day New York City alongside police detective Elisa Maza."

If that's accurate, Goliath would be the only gargoyle left, which feels completely wrong for a show that was all about family, loyalty, and teamwork. Losing characters like Brooklyn, Lexington, Broadway, Hudson, and Bronx would strip Gargoyles of a huge part of what made it special.

Hopefully, that plot summary isn’t final because starting off without the full crew would definitely be a misstep.

If Disney really wants to do this right, it would be smart to bring in some of the original creators to help guide the project. Fans aren’t just looking for cool CGI creatures; they want the same heart, drama, and world-building that made Gargoyles a legend in the first place.

Here’s hoping Dauberman and Wan pull it off.