Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, the German director-writer duo known for the Netflix hits Darkness and 1899, have renewed their collaboration with the streaming platform on a striking eight-figure deal, Deadline reports. The confirmation signals Netflix’s continued trust in the creative team and their ability to shepherd high-concept projects from script to screen in a way that keeps audiences hooked across multiple seasons and complex narratives.
Their upcoming Netflix project will adapt Something’s Killing the Children into a sweeping multi-family series. The source material is a hugely popular English-language comic created by James Tynion IV with art by Werther Del’Edera, which began its serialized run in 2019. The development marks a notable shift after horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan stepped away over creative differences and later became involved with Amazon, taking on an adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower franchise. This background underscores Netflix’s ongoing commitment to bold storytelling that dives into dark, layered themes with a distinct cinematic sensibility, as noted by Deadline.
The comic’s narrative unfolds in a small American town where children vanish without trace, and the only figure capable of confronting the lurking monsters is a mysterious girl named Erica Slaughter. Her presence drives the tension and mystery of the story, a premise that has resonated deeply with readers and helped Something’s Killing the Children become one of the most successful English-language original comics in recent years, with worldwide sales surpassing two million copies, according to Deadline.
In a broader market context, Netflix previously canceled Odar and Friese’s 1899 after its first season, a decision that sparked debate among fans and critics about the streaming service’s approach to interconnected, boundary-pushing storytelling. For those curious about how the show was received and analyzed, reviews and discussions can be found across entertainment outlets and fan forums, reflecting a wide range of perspectives on Netflix’s experimental approach to serialized drama.