Renowned figures in the realm of creature features, Gary Dauberman and James Wan‘s Atomic Monster banner, famed for their successful collaborations on the Annabelle horror film series, have joined forces to reimagine a 1990s cartoon Gargoyles as a live-action series for Disney+.
Taking the reins of the project, Dauberman will serve as the writer, executive producer, and showrunner, while Atomic Monster, led by Wan and Michael Clear, will also assume executive producing responsibilities. The venture is currently in its early stages of development under Disney Branded Television.
Originally created by Greg Weisman, Gargoyles, a Walt Disney Television Animation production, enjoyed a three-season run from 1994 to 1997. The show’s premise revolves around gargoyle statues transported from a Scottish castle to modern-day New York. Awakened from a thousand-year-old spell, these statues take on the duty of protecting the city, transforming from stone by day to warriors by night, as poignantly stated in the show’s narration.
Gargoyles emerged during a period of innovation in animated series, standing out with its intricate storylines and darker tones, akin to contemporaries such as Batman: The Animated Series and X-Men. Like its counterparts, Gargoyles has attained cult status, embedding itself in the memories of a generation of TV viewers.
While Disney made efforts to adapt the series in 2010, exploring a modern-day gargoyle feature alongside The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, the latter’s box office disappointment led to the project’s eventual halt.
Dauberman, recognized for his work on the Annabelle series and contributions to Wan’s successful Conjuring Universe, has not only found success at the box office but has also transitioned to the director’s chair, making his debut with Annabelle Comes Home. The duo previously collaborated on the short-lived Swamp Thing series, based on the DC character.
Dauberman, represented by CAA, Industry Entertainment, and Felker Toczek, remains a prominent figure in the horror genre, having penned the two-part adaptation of Stephen King’s It, the highest-grossing horror movie of all time. His upcoming projects include the Warner Bros. adaptation of King’s Salem’s Lot, for which he serves as both writer and director.
Atomic Monster, known for its involvement in the horror hit M3GAN, is concurrently working on a series adaptation of the Eisner-winning comic The Good Asian and a feature adaptation of the horror video game Dead by Daylight.
