Legendary Adapting Dystopian Comic LAZARUS for TV Series

Family above all.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed yesterday that Legendary Television and producer Matt Tolmach have acquired the rights to adapt Greg Rucka and Michael Lark's dystopian comic book Lazarus into a television series.

First released in October 2013 by Image Comics, Lazarus focuses on a futuristic society where 16 wealthy Families have divided the planet into territories that are under their direct control as a new form of feudalism.  Those who provide services for the Families are referred to as Serfs, having been "elevated to Service," while everyone else is Waste, uncared for by those in power, whose only hope for a better future is to be "elevated."  

Each Family has a Lazarus, a genetically engineered, unkillable being, who protects the Family.  Forever Carlyle is a Lazarus, and serves as the central protagonist in the series, using force and deception to keep her Family and their interests safe.  However, as the series progresses, Forever begins to question her role as she becomes aware of schemes and personal agendas around her.

According to the article, Rucka will write the series pilot episode, and will executive produce the series with Lark and Tolmach.  David Manpearl of Matt Tolmach Productions will work alongside Tolmach, known for producing The Amazing Spider-Man franchise at Sony, on the project.

Legendary Television currently has two series in preproduction -- Colony, a co-production with Universal Cable Productions, which USA picked up to series, and the two-season order for the Netflix original series, Love.  They are also developing Carnival Row, a project from Guillermo del Toro and Rene Echevarria for Amazon.