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Legendary Television, where the comic book powerhouse was based with a deal, will exec produce the drama.
Ed Brubaker’s Criminal is moving forward at Amazon.
Nearly a year since it was first put in development, the retail giant and streamer has handed out a formal series order for the drama series based on the interlocking world of crime stories from the comic book powerhouse.
Brubaker, whose TV credits include Westworld and Batman: Caped Crusader, will serve as showrunner alongside crime fiction author Jordan Harper (Hightown, Gotham). Sean Phillips, who co-created Criminal alongside Brubaker, will also exec produce alongside Brubaker and Harper as well as Sarah Carbiener and Phillip Barnett. Legendary Television will also be credited as an exec producer. Amazon MGM Studios is the studio. Related Stories Business Amazon Wants to Turbocharge Its Sports Advertising Business, Too Business Amazon's Audible Cuts 5 Percent of Staff
“Criminal is a beloved graphic novel created by the most iconic team in the history of comics,” said Nick Pepper, head of U.S. SVOD wholly owned development, Amazon MGM Studios. “I know our global Prime Video customers will immediately embrace this story, and I look forward to working with Ed, Jordan and the team to bring it to the screen.”
Pepper, it’s worth noting, signed Brubaker to his former overall deal during his tenure as president of Legendary Television and helped to develop Criminal.
“Sean and I have been building this world in our books for over a decade, and now to be able to bring it to life for Amazon is just incredible. And to have Amazon support the project the way they have and show so much faith in my and Jordan’s vision for the show is even more incredible,” Brubaker said.
Brubaker and Phillips are one of the most acclaimed teams in comics and have spent more than two decades creating titles including The Fade Out, Kill or Be Killed, Reckless and Pulp, among others. Individually, Brubaker has written on Marvel and DC titles including Batman, Catwoman, Iron Fist and Captain America, creating the character of the Winter Soldier on the latter.
Harper is the author of She Rides Shotgun and Everybody Knows.
A timeframe for the premiere of Criminal has not yet been determined. The series is one of a few that Pepper, sources say, spent the past couple months fast-tracking as he looks to make his mark at Amazon. Criminal joins a scripted slate at Amazon that also includes The Boys, Jack Ryan, Reacher and more.
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