Necroscope: Brian Lumley novel series getting multi-media adaptation

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary's production company Revelations Entertainment has acquired the rights to bring bestselling author Brian Lumley's Necroscope series of sci-fi horror novels to life on the screen across multiple media formats. Episodic television, animated features, video games, graphic novels, "emerging formats", they're all on the table. Lumley has provided them with plenty of material to work with, as there are currently 18 books in the Necroscope series.

The adaptations are being developed by McCreary, Gary Lucchesi, Glenn Hetrick, and Michael McKay. It's said that Hetrick has been conceptualizing an adaptation of Necroscope ever since the release of the first book in 1986. Hetrick had this to say about the project: 

I am fully committed to breathing life into every molecule of the visually compelling elements that comprise this sprawling literary universe, and I intend to do so with a terrifying veracity. It is, in short, my life’s work. Coupled with an integrity to both character & story, this unique approach will allow us to ‘peel back the curtain’ for a brand-new generation of global audience members while honoring the heritage so adored by the massive fan base. Of course, we will follow Harry Keogh through his journey while discovering the dread secrets of the shapeshifting, alien Vamphyri… and by plotting the main arcs across multiple seasons, we have the opportunity to take a deep dive into the diverse, global roster of psychic agents as they help to unveil their shocking origin. The adaptation work leans heavily into the verisimilitude of Lumley’s rich, supernatural mythology – specifically in regard to its parallels with real world philosophies, religions and history… the science of Magick… grounding our story in the most terrifying fictional reality ever created."

Lucchesi added, 

We are so thankful to Glenn Hetrick for introducing us to his vision for this remarkable, award winning franchise. A wonderful tale of good against evil."

McCreary said, 

The Necroscope universe allows us to explore the global themes of horror in a way never done before and is a great addition to our slate of epic, award-winning, large scale IP, which includes work by sci-fi visionary Arthur C. Clarke."

McKay feels that the Necroscope saga is 

far too epic… and simply too good… to relegate it to a single film. We have a nuanced, layered tapestry of science-fiction/horror unlike anything that has ever been put on screen… it is a once in a lifetime project, it deserves to be savored. The material deserves that, and so does the audience. There is so much to love about this series – but for me it boils down to one thing… GREATEST BAD GUY EVER!"

Freeman pondered: 

One of the questions that has confronted humankind throughout history is – Where do stories of good and evil come from and why are they strikingly similar between different cultures throughout history?"

I've heard great things about the Necroscope books, especially in horror magazines when the early books were coming out at the end of the '80s / beginning of the '90s, but never dove into them myself. With a protagonist who can speak to the dead and travels throughout the multi-dimensional universe while battling alien vampires, it sounds like a wild adventure.