Live-Action and Animated “Something Is Killing The Children” Adaptations Coming From Blumhouse

I have been waiting to hear more about Something Is Killing The Children jumping to TV and film, and we finally have an update. Blumhouse is all ready to bring the queer-inclusive horror action comic book from co-creator James Tynion IV to the live-action and animation mediums.

According to the press release, the iconic Blumhouse will be adapting Something Is Killing The Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera as a live-action film as well as an adult animated series. As a fan of the comic book (read my review here), I’m very excited about such a development. There are certain comic books out there that just scream “Give it a live-action or animated adaptation!” and Something Is Killing The Children definitely fits the bill because of the eerie visuals, world-building, and the narrative structure.

The story is set in a world where children can see monsters while adults can’t, except for a secret organization of adult monster hunters called the Order of St. George. While hunters can save the kids and others around them, their main priority is eliminating the monsters and keeping their existence a secret from the rest of the world. At the end of the day, the locals don’t matter. Our main character is Erica Slaughter, who works for the mysterious monster agency.

The first arc from the comic book had Erica arriving in Archer’s Peak, a small town in Wisconsin, to track and kill the monsters responsible for a bunch of murders. She (kind of) teams up with a queer boy who survived a monster attack. What follows is Erica’s struggle with saving the locals and fulfilling commands from the Order.

Saying more will spoil the story, even though the comic book has been out for years now. However, I don’t want to ruin anything, and I highly encourage you to pick up the series if you haven’t already. There are currently 44 highly enjoyable issues for you to read through of an ongoing story. Get to it!

According to BOOM! Studios (an imprint of Penguin Random House), SIKTC is “the most successful original horror comic book since The Walking Dead, selling more than 5 million copies” globally. So, yeah, a live-action and animated jump was expected.

Debuting back in September 2019 by BOOM! Studious, SIKTC went on to quickly attract a passionate fandom and sell numerous copies. It has been translated into more than 20 languages and published in 14 countries. Along with the main line, the House of Slaughter spin-off was introduced in October 2021 to expand the fictional supernatural world created by Tynion IV and Dell’Edera. The first issue of the House of Slaughter sold 500,000 copies, making it one of the top-selling original comic book debuts of the 21st Century.

As far as awards won by the project are concerned, Tynion IV became the first writer since Alan Moore to win the Eisner Award for Best Writer three consecutive years in a row (2021, 2022, and 2023). Tynion IV was nominated in 2025.

The impressive success helped encourage BOOM! Studios (who acquired Penguin Random House in 2024) to commit to a 100-issue run on SIKTC. The landmark 50th issue will release in 2026.

So, yeah, with Blumhouse getting involved and a new event series Fall of the House of Slaughter being announced at New York Comic-Con, SIKTC isn’t going away anytime soon. Not only that, but a crossover entitled Swamp Thing Is Killing the Children will also be hitting bookshelves sometime in 2026.

“It’s easy to see why audiences and critics alike have praised Something is Killing the Children,” shared Jason Blum, Blumhouse CEO and Founder. “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.”

“Something is Killing the Children is the comic book that changed my life and career forever,” said James Tynion IV. “Finding a partner who understood the potential of Erica Slaughter and 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.”

Talking about more details about the film, Stephen Christy and Tynion IV will produce the live-action project for BOOM! Studios/Penguin Random House. Jason Blum will produce for Blumhouse with Shaun Sutton and Ryan Turek serving as executive producers. Adam Yoelin and Mette Norkjaer will also serve as executive producers. Series co-creator Werther Dell’Edera will act as co-producer.

Furthermore, Tynion IV will executive produce the Something Is Killing The Children adult animated series, with series co-creator Werther Dell’Edera serving as co-executive producer. Stephen Christy will executive produce the series for BOOM! Studios, with Adam Yoelin and Mette Norkjaer co-executive producing.

Yes, to queer creative talent creating queer inclusive content that numerous people are excited about!

Have you been reading Something Is Killing The Children?

Let us know.

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(via Press Release)

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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