‘Hamilton’ Producers Adapting Neil Gaiman’s ‘Interworld’ for TV

Universal Cable Productions continues to invest in fanboy fare.

The NBCUniversal-owned studio continued its annual pre-San Diego Comic-Con tradition of unveiling its comic book-themed development slate with Wednesday’s announcement that it is adapting Neil Gaiman and Michael Reeves’ young adult fantasy/sci-fi series Interworld for the small screen. It is one of four titles being put into development at the cable-focused studio, which also has tapped Jeremy Slater (Fantastic Four, The Exorcist) to adapt iconic comic book series The Umbrella Academy. (Development on the Gerard Way title was announced last year.)

As Gaiman’s beloved American Gods adaptation at Starz prepares to unspool for diehard fans at Comic-Con during its Friday panel, UCP’s take on Interworld will be overseen by Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller and his producing partner/former NBC exec Flody Suarez. The duo in May inked an overall deal with Universal.

Gaiman, Reeves, Seller and Suarez will executive produce the series, which is described as an adventurous tale of teenage dimension-walker Joey Harker and his quest to battle and save all people — in all possible dimensions.

Here’s the official description: Everyone in the Interworld is a version of Joey, some only a little different, while others are different genders, different ages and even different species. What makes them all special is that they have the ability to “walk,” or travel from dimension to dimension. This also makes them a target for the Hex and the Binary factions, who yearn to conquer more dimensions by using these “walkers” as fuel.

“UCP continues to expand our genre slate and collaborate with luminaries from the world of graphic novels and science fiction,” said exec vp development Dawn Olmstead. “We’re proud and fortunate to be partnering with some of the most imaginative and talented auteurs in the business.”

Here’s a look at the other titles being developed by UCP as part of its latest development slate: 

• The Woods, a comic book written by James Tynion IV with art by Michael Dialynas and published by Boom! Studios. Michael Armbruster (Beautiful Boy) is attached to write.

• Bushido, based on the Heroes and Villains/Top Cow Entertainment comic book series about a young Dutch boy who finds himself adopted by a high-ranking samurai. Roy Lee (The Departed), John Powers Middleton (Bates Motel) and Adam Stone (The Voices) will executive produce and Markus Goerg, Dick Hillenbrand and Mikhail Nayfeld of Heroes and Villains Entertainment are co-executive producers.

• The Good Neighbors, based on the graphic novel by Holly Black & Ted Naifeh and written by Barbara Marshall. Marshall, Jeremy Bell, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Jon Shestack will executive produce.