Warner Bros. Animation Sneak Peeks ‘Get Jiro,’ Teases Gerry Anderson’s ‘Hit Squad,’ Announces ‘Dark Shadows’ Animated Series at Annecy Adult Animation Showcase
Warner Bros. Animation, hugely active this year at Annecy, unveiled Friday at Annecy a new “Dark Shadows” animated series, confirming the studio’s push in adult animation into other genres beyond adult comedy.
Reimagining the 1960s cult TV series, the show is in very early development stages, with Lisa Holdsworth, creator of Channel 4’s “Dreamers” and a writer on Sky’s “Discovery of Witches” and BBC’s “Call the Midwife,” set as executive producer and showrunner. Cathy Curtis, Tracy Curtis, Eric Homan, Kevin Kolde and Fred Seibert serve as executive producers.
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The announcement was made Friday at a WBA adult animation showcase at Annecy’s Mifa Market hosted by Shaleen Desai, senior VP, creative affairs, and Peter Girardi, executive VP, alternative programming at Warner Bros. Animation.
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Bowing 1967, the supernatural family saga gained a huge teen following after the introduction of family member Barnabas Collins, a vampire played by Jonathan Frid, becoming ABC’s highest-rating daytime series and spawning multiple spin-offs including a Tom Burton’s 2012 movie starring Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer.
The new version is in development. It still remains to be seen what way Warner Bros. Animation will take the new series. WBA used the adult animation session to add more granularity to some of its – and indeed Annecy’s – biggest announcements made this week at the French animation festival.
These took in a series development greenlight on “Absolute Batman,” adapting the popular comic book, and a series greenlight on DC’s first anime series “Joker: Laugh Riot” – plus series development on “Krypto,” enrolling some of DC’s biggest super heroes and super villains across, as WPA noted, a wide range of styles, tones and stories for audiences of every age.
Announced Wednesday at Annecy, these major plays for Warner Bros. Animation and DC, followed on the world premiere of “Batman: Knightfall,” the first instalement of a planned animated feature trilogy.
One of the biggest comic book events of the 1990s, starring Anson Mount and Michael Mando and unveiling a Robin we’ve barely seen in film before, it played to thunderous applause at Annecy on Tuesday Variety noted.
At its Friday adult animation showcase, Warner Bros. Animation and Hanna-Barbera studios also revealed first images of the Gerry Anderson-inspired puppet TV series “Hit Squad,” with extensive footage shown to an enthusiastic crowd.
“We’re truly happy to bring this brand new series, written by Gerry Anderson in the late 1970s, to the screen,” said Giraldi. ”With upgrades on the puppetry, and a blend of CG and practical effects, ‘Hit Squad’ blends action with dark humor, brought forth by both Hanna-Barbera Europe and Warner Bros. Animation teams.”
Circling back to their new Adult Swim family show “Keeping Up With the Joneses,” the WBA duo described the upcoming series as part of “an emphasis on original stories, with character-based comedy bringing the ‘family comedy show’ genre to our long-time partners and friends at Adult Swim.”
One of the fastest growing divisions at Warner Bros. Animation with titles such as “Harley Quinn,” ”Kiteman” and more, adult animation teams has been pushing the boundaries of both WBA and DC Studios legacy IPs while opening up to new animated narratives. “We don’t have a house style,” added Girardi. “Instead, we let the show dictate that.”
To prove the point, the duo shared previously revealed early development images of the upcoming “Absolute Batman” series, which got the Bonlieu on its feet during Wednesday’s DC Studios showcase.
An even truer testament to this approach is definitely “Get Jiro,” a project seven years in the making which has been one of Annecy’s most-awaited projects for a long time. Following up on its 2025 work-in-progress session, the duo treated attendees on Friday at the Volière, Mifa’s biggest venue, with a screening of the series’ first episode, unveiling the post-apocalyptic setting of this cuisine-revenge driven half-hour show.
Animation fans were in for a very tasty treat, as the episode introduced villains and set the tone for the brutal show adapted from the best-selling Vertigo series by the late Anthony Bourdain, co-created with Joel Rose.
John Hopewell contributed to this article.
Jump to Comments Loading comments...Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
