Blumhouse has acquired the rights to adapt Boom! Studios’ critically acclaimed Something is Killing the Children, a monthly comic series created by writer James Tynion IV and artist Werther Dell’Edera. Debuting in 2019, it follows Erica Slaughtera, a monster hunter investigating a series of mysterious child disappearances.
Blumhouse announced the news on X, saying plans call for Something is Killing the Children to be adapted into a feature film as well as an animated series. The studio’s post, which can be seen below, includes a video and a caption saying, “There’s a new chapter coming in the comic that redefined modern horror. We’re bringing Something Is Killing the Children to life in both a live-action film and adult animated series from @JamesTheFourth, Werther Dell’Edera, and Boom Studios.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, studio head Jason Blum will produce the live-action feature, with the company’s Shaun Sutton and Ryan Turek serving as executive producers. Series co-creator Dell’Edera will act as co-producer, while co-creator James Tynion IV will produce for Boom! Studios/Penguin Random House alongside Stephen Christy. In a statement via THR, Blum said:
“It’s easy to see why audiences and critics alike have praised Something is Killing the Children. James and Werther’s comic book series taps into our most primal fears, luring us into a fascinating world and introducing Erica Slaughter, the ass-kicking hero we all wish we had to fight the monsters that lurk in the dark.”
Series co-creator James Tynion IV added his own statement:
“Something is Killing the Children is the comic book that changed my life and career forever. Finding a partner who understood the potential of Erica Slaughter and the world Werther Dell’Edera and I have built was crucial, and we have found that partner in Jason Blum. Nobody understands horror better than Blumhouse, and I can’t wait for the world to see what we all have planned together.”
‘Something is Killing the Children’ Has the Potential to Be the Next ‘Walking Dead’
Since hitting comic store shelves in September 2019, Something is Killing the Children has attracted interest from Hollywood. Netflix signed a deal with Boom! Studios in 2021 to adapt the series, with Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy initially announced as co-writers and executive producers for the pilot. The duo dropped out due to creative differences with Netflix, and in 2023, Dark creators Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese were brought on board to develop the series. However, in 2024, Netflix let its options on the rights expire.
Netflix tried to reacquire the rights under its film division, but Blumhouse won a bidding war that reportedly also included Lionsgate. The Hollywood Reporter notes that the project attracted Blumhouse due to similarities with the recent box office hit Weapons, which reaped $267 million worldwide.
Something is Killing the Children has been a critical and commercial hit. The first issue sold 175,000 copies across multiple printings, and the comic has sold 5 million copies overall — sales numbers that match those of big publishers like Marvel and DC. James Tynion IV has won three consecutive Eisner Awards for writing the series, which has also launched its own franchise, titled “The Slaughterverse,” with spinoff miniseries like House of Slaughter, the Books of Slaughter series, and the recently announced Fall of the House of Slaughter. The Slaughterverse might be the next The Walking Dead, a cult comic hit whose adaptation launches it into the mainstream with multiple spinoffs.