Blumhouse Acquires Rights to Boom! Studios’ Hit Comic, Plans Film and TV Series

– Blumhouse has successfully outbid several companies including Netflix and Lionsgate to secure the rights to popular Boom! Studios comic, Something Is Killing the Children.
– The company has plans to simultaneously develop the franchise as both a live-action feature film and an adult animated TV series, with both being helmed by creators James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera.
– The comic, which has sold over 5 million copies and earned several prestigious awards, revolves around a mysterious woman named Erica Slaughter who fights monsters that are only visible to children.

The popular Boom! Studios comic, Something Is Killing the Children, penned by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera, has been acquired by Blumhouse, the renowned horror film production company. The title has been in the spotlight since its debut in 2019 and was previously being adapted into a live-action series.

Blumhouse, known for its productions like Black Phone 2 and the upcoming Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, has intentions to develop it into both a live-action theatrical feature film as well as an adult animated television series. Tynion is set to guide the television adaptation, while rights to the comic were being pursued by Lionsgate and Netflix, though Blumhouse emerged as the ultimate victor.

The comic has proven to be a major success, becoming one of the top-selling in the horror genre since The Walking Dead. It details a world where children can perceive monsters which are invisible to adults, a concept that Blumhouse was eager to bring to life. The turnout at auction was largely due to Weapons, a summer horror film by Zach Cregger, which ignited interest in the genre.

The live-action feature film will be produced by Blumhouse’s Jason Blum, with Shaun Sutton and Ryan Turek serving as executive producers. From Boom! Studios/Penguin Random House, Stephen Christy and Tynion will produce the film, with additional executive production by Adam Yoelin and Mette Norkjaer. Dell’Edera, co-creator of the series, will serve as a co-producer.

The comic’s initial narrative arc narrates a tale of a town terrorized by child-devouring monsters, with only a teen survivor to recount the horrors occurring. The character Erica Slaughter is introduced as a monster slayer who, along with her dismembering of monsters, unveils a secretive organization and its ominous politics. Future narratives have further elaborated on this world.

While the comic has transitioned to becoming the highest-selling independent comic since Saga, it has also found critical success, garnering nominations and awards including an Eisner award for best new series in 2020 and best series in 2022. Tynion also clinched three consecutive Eisners for the series’ writing.