Netflix just gave fantasy lovers what they didn’t know they needed. The streaming platform “Vault Comics” has officially announced its own dark fantasy, “Barbaric,” which will be made into a medieval action fantasy series for the platform this year and which will star “Twisted Hatourable” lead actors.
The Comic’s Origins
Written by Michael Moreci and drawn by Nathan Gooden, Barbarian is coming from Vault Comics in 2021. It was released in an age when most publishers were declaring fantasy comic books to be a dead genre, yet it was an instant critical favorite and fan favorite.
Meet Owen the Barbarian
As a vicious, no-holds-barred warrior, the only thing worse that can happen to Owen is to be compelled to be used for good. On a path of self-discovery, redemption, and revenge, he travels through the medieval world with a bloodthirsty axe that talks, and a young witch.
The Talking Axe Beats the Drum.
Axe is more than a weapon: he’s Owen’s disobliged sense of right and wrong and his mortifying drunkard. As Deadpool likes to bang his head against the wall in furious anger and Axe is the darkly humorous type of guy, the chemistry between both characters is spot on what critics call “Deadpool meets Game of Thrones.”
Five Volumes and Counting
Barbaric is now in its fifth volume and continues to be one of the highest selling fantasy comics of the last decade! A spin-off series has since spanned the universe much further than what Owen did in his story, as well as a stand-alone special, Queen of Swords.
Dream Team behind the camera.
Academy Award nominee Sheldon Turner, who co-wrote and co-showrunned X-Men First Class and Up in the Air, will co-showrun and write the series as well. With The CW’s Supergirl, writer-director Robert Rovner is also on board for the project as a fellow co-showrunner.
Star-Studded Producing Team
Executive producers are 100% Productions’ Jennifer Klein, A+E Studios’ Berrie Jossen and Tana Jamieson, along with TV veteran Javier Grillo-Marxuach, who has worked with both Lost and The Witcher. Sam Claflin is also executive producing through his company, Soft Claw Productions.
Casting Still to Be Finalised
There is no official casting confirmed yet, as per Variety, the casting is still being finalised with a talent deal for the production. Sam Claflin was previously credited as Owen, and Sir Patrick Stewart was said to be providing some voice acting for Axe, but both have yet to be confirmed for the Netflix greenlit version.
Netflix Stock in Fantasy Track Record
Netflix is by no means new to fantasy fare, as the company has already brought The Witcher and Avatar: The Last Airbender to the masses. Barbaric was the biggest sword and sorcery series since Conan, according to Vault’s Editor-in-Chief Adrian Wassel, and he has no hesitation in setting the bar high for the adaptation.
No Release Date Yet
There has been no Netflix production schedule or release date at this time. What is known is that the series will be penned by A+E Studios and have a creative team with both the comic book lineage and television expertise to bring something truly unique to TV screens.
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