The Lost Boys television adaptation just can’t catch a break. After moving forward with their reboot of Kung Fu and The Republic of Sarah, The CW decided to roll on another series called Maverick and Lost Boys. The decision to roll on the Lost Boys pilot added yet another chapter in the long journey to the small screen for the series based on the popular 1987 feature film.
The Lost Boys has been in some form of development at The CW since 2016. Hailing from Rob Thomas, creator of Veronica Mars, the show finally shot a pilot last year but it was ordered to be retooled and reworked for contention this fall. The new pilot was in the middle of being shot when the COVID-19 pandemic forced production to halt. The CW was able to see some footage of the series but decided to roll it and proceed with Kung Fu instead. The reason it came down to these two shows is because of parity between the CW’s affiliated studios, Warner Bros TV and CBS TV Studios, which means two WBTV-produced pilots were vying for one slot. Despite rolling on the pilot, CW President Mark Pedowitz remains passionate about the project and hopes to make it work someday:
"Lost Boys is a passion of mine personally, having Rob attached to it. Once we get through this climate, we will make a determination on how best to proceed with Lost Boys. I’m hoping to keep it going."
In the latest pilot that was being shot for The Lost Boys, the show follows a mother and her Gen Z sons who move to the seaside town where she grew up. They soon discover there’s a sinister reason the local cool kids sleep all day, party all night, never grow up, and never get old. Family bonds are tested as the brothers find themselves on opposite sides of a mythological struggle.
This project seems cursed at this point and maybe it's a sign that The CW just shouldn't touch the 1987 film which is pretty much perfect just the way it is. If this thing has taken four years to get off the ground and it still can't see the light of day, it might be time to throw in the towel on this one.
Do YOU think The CW should continue pursuing adapting THE LOST BOYS?