Say what you will about the recent glut of superhero films in theaters. Sure, if you’re not a fan of grown men and women donning capes and spandex and saving the world, these films could be seen as, dare I say, juvenile. However, no matter your thoughts on superhero films and TV series, you have to admit that the popularity of the genre is allowing for other non-super comic book stories to get their chance to shine — such as “DMZ.”
According to Variety, HBO Max has ordered a pilot episode for a potential series based on the popular comic book series, “DMZ.” And best of all, Oscar-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay is attached to lend her immense talent to the series as the helmer of the first episode.
“DMZ” is created by writer Brian Wood and artist Riccardo Burchielli and tells the story of a young journalist from an alternate version of the US, where America is embroiled in a civil war between the country and the secessionist Free States of America. The journalist finds himself embedded in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) of Manhattan, where the island best resembles a war-torn, third-world country.
The series hails from showrunner/executive producer Roberto Patino. He’s best known as a writer-producer on series such as HBO’s “Westworld” and FX’s recent series “Sons of Anarchy” and “Bastard Executioner.”
“DMZ” is the latest project to be added to DuVernay’s plate as part of her overall deal with Warner Bros. TV. The series fits nicely in the realm of political thrillers and alternate history projects that have been populating film and TV in recent years. With it’s obvious connections to modern politics, “DMZ” could become one of those shows, similar to “The Handmaid’s Tale,” that comments on the current state of society but through the prism of an alternate future. Let’s just hope it’s not something that is going to come true, as ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ seems destined to become our sad reality.
“DMZ” doesn’t have a release date, as HBO Max isn’t even a real thing yet, and the series only has a pilot order. But with DuVernay attached, it’s likely this will get the green light eventually.
