Oscar-winner Ryan Coogler (“Sinners”) is seriously looking to leave a footprint in the world of television, and we’re all here for it. After Marvel Television‘s “Ironheart” and his latest revival of “The X-Files,” Coogler is reportedly looking to adapt the popular kid novels “Animorphs” into a series for Disney+ by executive producing through his banner Proximity Media (as part of their overall deal at Disney).
The news hailing from Variety that hit over the weekend adds that Bayan Wolcott is set to executive produce and write the TV project after tackling episodes for Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” spinoff series “The Testaments” (that stars “One Battle After Another” breakout Chase Infiniti).
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If you’re not familiar with the IP, it focuses on a series of fantasy books created by writers K. A. Applegate and Michael Grant that have kids being able to transform into various animals thanks to the involvement of aliens. A brief synopsis mentioned by the outlet says that “Animorphs” is set to follow “a group of teenagers who uncover a hidden threat lurking beneath their everyday lives, all while juggling relationships, curfews, and the chaos of High School.”
“Animorphs” had a TV series that debuted in 1998 and aired on Nickelodeon in the U.S. and on YTV/Global in Canada over two seasons. We have to assume that this would fit nicely alongside other Disney+ TV projects like the recent take on “Goosebumps” and the “Percy Jackson” adaptation. This comes after some previous feature film attempts failed to cross the finish line.
Others among the producing team alongside Coogler are Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler of Proximity. Iole Lucchese and Caitlin Friedman via Scholastic, 20th Television, Proximity’s Simone Harris, vice president and head of TV, and Dezi Gallegos, director of development of TV, are also overseeing the project.
In previous interviews, Coogler has mapped out his schedule with “The X-Files” starring Himesh Patel and Danielle Deadwyler being up next before moving on to tackle “Black Panther 3” (has “Malcolm X” co-stars Denzel Washington and Delroy Lindo potentially circling roles in the MCU sequel) for Marvel Studios.
When “Animorphs” is going to be ready for production is a little less clear, given how busy Coogler and Proximity are, as it has yet to be given a full series order and is only in the development stage. We also don’t know if Coogler will get behind the camera to direct episodes, but I’m sure Disney+ would be grateful if he did.
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