HBO Max Orders Pilot For ‘DMZ’ Comic Book Adaptation
New streaming service HBO Max has handed a pilot order to an adaptation of DC/Vertigo comic book ‘DMZ’ it has been announced.
The series is set in a near-future, where America is in the midst of a new civil war. The action takes place in New York City, more specifically, the island of Manhattan, which has been turned into a demilitarized zone, aka the DMZ. As war rages between the remains of the federal government and the secessionist Free State armies, a female medic on the island is trying day-in and day-out to help keep residents alive while trying to also find her lost son. In the process, she tries to prove a source of hope in an America that has lost all sense of the idea, as she faces gangs, militias and warlords that control the lawless no man’s land.
Acclaimed director Ava DuVernay, who is no stranger to comic books, having also signed on to direct a big-screen adaptation of DC’s ‘New Gods’, is set to be behind the camera for the project. Her previous work includes ‘Selma’, which saw her land a Golden Globe nomination, the documentary ’13th’, which was nominated for an Oscar, and the Emmy nominated Netflix series ‘When They See Us’.
The story is being adapted by Roberto Patino (‘Sons of Anarchy’, ‘Westworld’) from the original comic book by Brian Wood. Patino will also serve as showrunner and exec produce. The pilot is produced by DuVernay’s Array Filmworks, in association with Warner Bros Television.
“DMZ is a special project to me as it marks a key collaboration with my company Array Filmworks, the excellent team at Warner Bros TV and the dynamo Roberto Patino,” DuVernay told Deadline in an interview. “We’ve all worked diligently on this material, and I’ve witnessed Roberto in action. He’s insanely talented and cares about telling stories with maximum impact and imagination. I’m eager to share this one with DC fans.”
The ‘DMZ’ pilot is expected to film in 2020, but we’ll let you know if we hear it is moving forward.
