Jim Starlin's Cosmic Space Opera Comic DREADSTAR Is Being Developed as a TV Series
Jim Starlin’s cosmic space opera comic book series Dreadstar from Marvel imprint Epic Comics is confirmed to be developed as a TV series. The news was revealed by Starlin and co-artist Jaime Jameson at Brazil's CCXP 2022.
When asked about a live-action adaptation Jameson said, "We're working on that.” There was a TV series in the works at one point in 2015, which was being developed by producers Chris Bender and J.C. Spink and NBCUniversal's Battlestar Galactica producers UCP. But, Starlin explained development on that project stalled after Spink died in 2017. He said:
"We had one show in the works, but then the producer died. That sort of put a kibosh on everything, so now we're talking to folks again. We don't want to do a movie. We want to do a series, because it's a long story. So that makes it kind of difficult right now, but we're working on it."
Dreadstar tells the story of Vanth Dreadstar, the last survivor of the Milky Way galaxy. Possessing the power of a demigod and an enchanted sword, the Starslayer searches the galaxy for causes to champion with his intergalactic comrades, including canny cat-man Oedi, cyborg sorcerer Syzygy Darklock, con man Skeevo, and cybernetic telepath Willow. Spanning the Empirical Galaxy, the series is set against a 200-year-old war between King Gregzor's Monarchy and High Lord Papal's political-mystical-religious order known as The Instrumentality.
The series is being developed as Starlin and Jameson recently teamed up to develop the 100-page revival graphic novel Dreadstar Returns. Starlin went on to say:
"This is the 40th year of Dreadstar, and Jaime and I have decided to bring the series back. She's my co-artist on this, basically. She's listed as the inker, but in a lot of ways, she's also helped redesign some of the characters and inspiration on a lot of the story now, too."
Starlin had a major hand injury that could have ended his career, but he’s back at it. In regards to that he said:
"Before I blew my hand up, I was working on that story. The art book from my [Dreadstar] omnibus has a few pages of that. I eventually will get back to that story, but that's not the end of the five graphic novels. I plan on continuing it for a while, but I'm gonna have that scripted as a reserve, and after I pass away, somebody else can draw it."
This could make for a great series if it was in the hands of the right creative team. Hopefully, Starlin and Jameson are able to find that team of talent. What do you think about Dreadstar being developed as a TV series?
Source: ComicBook