Netflix Presents Film Adaptation of Charles Burns' Award-Winning Novel Black hole comics for television, with writer-director Jane Schoenbrun (I saw the TV light, We're all going to the World's Fair) is set to adapt the story and direct.
Black hole was released between 1995 and 2005 with a run of 12 issues. The film takes place in the suburbs of Seattle in the mid-1970s. It follows a group of teenagers who become infected with a mysterious sexually transmitted disease known colloquially as “the bug”. The disease causes visible physical mutations—tails, a second mouth, horns, etc.—in anyone who contracts it, turning them into outcasts. The comic combines teen angst, body horror, and sexual awakening, and is narrated primarily by two high school-aged characters: popular well-to-do student Chris and neurotic stoner Kate (who has an unrequited crush on the former).
Here's the Netflix description Black hole series, produced by the streamer and Regency:
There's an old myth that haunts the seemingly perfect little town of Roosevelt: If you have sex too early, you'll contract the “bug,” a virus that will literally turn you into the “monster” of your worst nightmares. Absurd, right? This was what Chris had always assumed until, after one reckless night at the beginning of her senior year, she found herself infected. Now she will be sent into the forest to live with other infected people, where a frightening new threat arises: a serial killer who is hunting them down one by one.
Black hole received numerous awards, including the Harvey and Ignatz Prizes for the collected works of this series. Burns himself received several Harvey Awards for his drawings; Black hole (and Burns's wider work) are noted for their heavy use of ink and an illustrative style reminiscent of engravings.
Hollywood has tried, but so far unsuccessfully, to adapt Black hole several times. Directed by Alexander Azha (Crawl), David Fincher (Social network) and Rick Famuyiwa (Drug) were all tied to previous unrealized incarnations Black hole.
Black hole will be Schönbrun's first television series. The show does not have an announced release date.
