Good news for fans of Harrow County: Syfy plans on developing a television series based on the horror comic by writer Cullen Bunn and artist Tyler Crook.
Back in July, Universal, Syfy's parent company, announced a partnership with Dark Horse Comics, the publisher behind Harrow County, for a "first look" deal, which meant that Syfy would get first consideration when it came to adapting any Dark Horse comic book for TV or film. Harrow County was already at the top of the list for potential development.
The initial press release about the deal revealed that Dark Horse and Universal began talks at last year's San Diego Comic-Con with Universal executives meeting with some of Dark Horse's top writers and artists.
"Dark Horse Entertainment has an incredible roster of fantastical, witty and mind bending stories," said Dawn Olmstead, Universal Cable Productions' executive vice president of development, in a press statement. "Their brand has conquered multiple media platforms and boasts iconic books that have attracted the highest level of writers. It's going to be a wild and imaginative ride."
Harrow County quickly became a hit with comic book fans and critics earlier this year, thank to its certain creepy brand of Southern gothic horror. The series follows a young girl, Emmy, who discovers that she has a special connection with the ghosts, ghouls, creatures and "haints" of the woods that surround the farm where she lives because she's a reincarnation of a powerful witch.
"Emmy is one of my favorite characters," said Bunn to Newsarama. "She's kind-hearted and strong-willed and she sees the world around her with wide-eyed fascination. She also possesses a terrifying power that is only just beginning to reveal itself. My hope is that readers will both love and be a little uneasy when it comes to Emmy."
Universal's deal with Dark Horse also gives Syfy access to other comic book properties, such as Umbrella Academy, a series created by My Chemical Romance lead singer Gerard Way. Other titles under consideration are The True Lies of the Fabulous Killjoys, Back-up and Concrete.
Writer Becky Kirsch heads up the Harrow County project. Kirsch is previously known for her work on Syfy's Dominion and 12 Monkeys.
As of yet, no other details about Syfy's adaptation of Harrow County is available, but the network should make an announcement soon about casting once the series begins production.
