Although DiabloFans was closed for a few months, the Diablo news didn't come to a halt. Further information has recently come to light that the Diablo Netflix series is continuing to move forward. While we've reported on this in the past, here's a quick recap to catch everyone up on what we know:
In August 2018, the movie and nerd review site Revenge of the Fans originally reported they had come across a credible rumor that Blizzard was talking with Netflix to produce an animated TV series based on the Diablo franchise, with Andrew Cosby tapped to write the show. This rumor was later substantiated by Cosby himself on twitter.
I guess I can confirm I am indeed in final talks to write and show-run the new DIABLO animated series for Activision and Netflix. It's very exciting and I hope to the High Heavens it all works out.
— Andy Cosby (@andycosby) September 20, 2018
However, that tweet was quickly deleted, but not before being picked up and passed around the internet. While the tweet itself did make it clear that the deal had not yet been reached, it's evidence enough that it is indeed a project actively being pursued by Blizzard. We also learned from this that Cosby would not only be writing for the series but acting as showrunner as well. For those not familiar with the term, a showrunner is the person with creative control for a TV program, sometimes credited as executive producer.
Cosby has worked on and created a variety of TV and film projects ranging from writing the recent Hellboy reboot to being co-creator of the TV show Eureka. Cosby is also the co-founder of BOOM! Studios, a comic book publisher that has worked on the comic book adaptions for a number of popular series such as Toy Story, Warhammer 40k, and numerous other film tie-ins. Cosby has the background for writing mature content as well as experience in working with adaptations of preexisting properties, which adds a lot of credibility behind the rumors that he was selected to head up the Diablo Netflix project.
It appears that those behind the scenes talks did eventually go somewhere, because on March 8th Blizzard filed a new trademark for Diablo in regards to a film or movie for a video-on-demand service.
Adding even more fuel to the rumors, Cosby himself tweeted a rather cryptic hint that he's working on something big:
It's killing me that I can't talk openly about my new super secret project, because my new super secret project is just so frikkin' cool! Soon... very soon...
— Andy Cosby (@andycosby) March 14, 2019
Netflix has contributed further to the speculation around the possible Diablo series by acquiring and producing a growing number of video game adaptations, including shows for The Witcher, The Division, Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, and an all-new season for its hit Castlevania series. Diablo fits right in with these other series, building a collection of mature, adult-themed shows to add to Netflix's catalog of content.
With the annual San Diego Comic Con coming next week, do you think a formal announcement of the series could be at our doorstep? Or are you not yet convinced that Blizzard will actually go through with the series? We've had our own thoughts on what a Diablo TV show could look like, but let us know your thoughts in the comments below or stop by our forums to share your ideas of the shape a Diablo TV series could take.
Stopped reading at animated. The majority of Diablo fans are grown ups that been playing since D1 or D2 and are
not interested in cartoons.
I'm an adult that has been playing since D1 and appreciates animated media. You can speak for yourself.
I mean... The games cutscenes are animated. What if it's the same animation style as the cutscenes from the games? No one said the shit was going to look like a kids cartoon or an anime.
I would like to say I am an adult and love animation and probably prefer it over live action. Also I personal think an animated series will be able to do justice to the Diablo games better than a live action one.
Great article man !!!
Why not make it real movie? I'm sure it will be attracting. For this Diablo I mean
Diablo 2 artstyle hopefully.
Not really interested in you opinion.
I'd take a well done animated series over bad cgi and trash like Warcraft or Bayformers?
Ever think this series isnt designed and catered specifically to you?
Face it pal, you're old and not the target audience, you play D2 single player offline and hated D3.
They are trying to attract more gamers and a younger audience to their series
If you think Castlevania or Devilman Crybaby or a number of others are not directed at "grown ups" you should check again...
32 here, I'm fine with animated. If they were going to do live action it has to be just as good, and built with the same amount of love, as the Warcraft movie which I don't think they have the funding or support for. I'm cool with animated orca scene.
Have you seen into the spideyverse? I would take more series like that!
Animated? Meh. It's. Not. Super. Cool. Project, as stated by Cosby!
2019 - the year of Diablo reveals at Blizzcon? It seems Blizzard needs to give us something juicy after an incredibly demoralizing 2018 Diablo phone game. We'll see. I believe Blizzard knows the right path. They just have to walked it. Give us juicy D4 gameplay It's really all the fans want.
great lets get the guy who ruined hellboy to ruin the whole diablo universe also.....considering they had all the source material and they still fucked it up, especially with the worst casting call of the century....i forget his name but the guy who was the new hellboy....just another series thats gonns be butchered by someone who has no idea wtf he is doing nor has any idea what source material is.
animated isnt a problem, look at how good the castlevania series was on netflix. ye . it had its flaws but overall for something released post 2005 its pretty good. regardless animated or not though its gonna be shit with that guy at the helm...andy cosby lol the next rian johnson basically.
I feel like a lot of people tend to forget about the Wrath animation.
Yes is amazing never forgot, and good and last story of Chris Metzen lore.
Just imagine the cosplay that people will come up with,...what with all the different-looking styles and colors of armor pieces from Diablo 3? RIght?