Dear reader, trust me when I say that you're going to want to keep a box of tissues and a pet to snuggle real close for this one. Before the weekend, Hulu announced that they too are getting into the Jeff Lemire business by giving a pilot order to SWEET TOOTH, a drama based on the gut-wrenching and action-packed animal hybrid epic from BLACK HAMMER and THE UNDERWATER WELDER creator Jeff Lemire. Joining forces for the endeavor are none other than Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey via their Team Downey banner, with HAP and LEONARD co-creator Jim Mickle on writing and directing duties.
For those of you who're unfamiliar with Lemire's tear-jerking sci-fi odyssey, SWEET TOOTH is a coming-of-age fable that tells the heroic story of Gus, a young boy/deer hybrid who leaves the protection of his secluded home only to discover that the world has been ravaged by a cataclysmic event. Along his journey through a wilderness laden with danger around every bend, Gus recruits a ragtag family of hybrid creators and humans to discover the origin of the ever-decaying world around them. Before long, the unlikely adventurers discover that the world is far scarier than they ever would have imagined, and that humans will use every last trick of the trade to reclaim the land they once knew.
At the moment, Lemire has several film and television projects in the works, including an adaptation of his graphic novel, THE UNDERWATER WELDER, set to be co-produced and directed by Ryan Gosling. More recently, Legendary snagged the rights to Lemire's BLACK HAMMER comic book series, which revolved around a group of superheroes who're forced to live in seclusion after a ruinous event. Also coming from Lemire is a television adaptation of GIDEON FALLS, a horror series Lemire co-created with artist Andrea Sorrentino. For more details on GIDEON FALLS, plus an exclusive interview with both creators of the series, click here.
I'm telling you right now, folks, should SWEET TOOTH go to series, and remain on the air until the tale is told, there won't be a dry eye in the house when all is said and done. I was a wreck upon reading the final issue of SWEET TOOTH back in 2013. That said, the series goes to some truly wild places, and introduces readers to a raft of interesting characters and action-packed scenarios. I'll warn you though, this series is like GAME OF THRONES in that you should not get attached to anyone. Are you picking up what I'm putting down?
In closing, the future looks bright for Mr. Lemire and company, and as a big fan of his for the past several years, I can't wait to see what each of these announced projects yields. If for nothing else, the above listed offerings will introduce casual comic fans to some new and exciting aspects of the medium, as well as make for some damn fine television, I'm assuming. My body is ready. Let's do this.