Sam Kieth’s ‘The Maxx’ is ready for a new adaptation with The Hollywood Reporter brining word that Channing Tatum and prouder Roy Lee (‘IT,’ ‘The LEGO Movie,’ ‘Doctor Sleep’) are teaming to adapt the cult favourite comic-turned MTV cartoon.
Created by Sam Kieth in 1993, the comic follows the adventures of the titular hero both in the real world and in an alternate reality referred to as the Outback. In the real world, the Maxx is a vagrant, a “homeless man living in a box”, while in the Outback, he is the powerful protector of the Jungle Queen. The Jungle Queen exists in the real world as Julie Winters, a freelance social worker, who often bails the Maxx out of jail. While the Maxx is aware of the Outback, Julie is not, though it is integral to both of their stories.
The comic was adapted into an animated series as part of MTV’s Oddities. Running for 13 episodes, the series covered Darker Image #1, The Maxx #1/2, and issues #1–11 of the regular series and depicted the introduction of Julie, the original Maxx, Mister Gone, a serial rapist with a telepathic link to Julie, and later, Sara, a teenage girl Julie is counselling.
Lee will produce via Vertigo Entertainment, with Tatum and his partners Reid Carolin and Peter Kiernan producing through their Free Association banner. Kieth is also on board to produce. It is currently unknown if they are planning a film or a series.