Hulu And Marvel Partner For Live-Action RUNAWAYS Series

Just a few days ago, Hulu announced that they would no longer support free streaming service and would be opting for a 100% paid-subscription model akin to their main competitor Netflix.  Now, they'e taking another page from the Netflix playbook, partnering with Marvel TV for a live-action Runaways series that will be based on the run from Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona.  Gossip Girl creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage are spearheading development.

Deadline describes the series as "a story of six diverse teenagers who can barely stand each other but who must unite against a common foe – their parents."

Shwartz stated, "I’m a long-time fan of Runaways and couldn’t be more excited to bring Brian and Adrian’s characters to life."  Savage added, "Josh and I can’t wait to get to work for Marvel and Hulu."  Head of Marvel TV Jeph Loeb also weighed in, "We’ve known the Runaways‘ story would make great television and being lucky enough to have Josh and Stephanie — who have time and again created shows that speak so genuinely to this exact audience — write and produce the series is nothing short of remarkable."

Deadline adds that Hulu and Marvel TV have been negotiating for almost a year.  The mother of one of the Runaway members appears in the Doctor Strange prequel comic.

Runaways debuted in 2003 and followed the teenage children of an evil crime syndicate known as The Pride.  The series lasted 18 issue but was cancelled in September 2004.  However, the tpb collection of the series was a bestseller and Marvel resurrected the title in 2005 and published regular issues until 2009.  

Marvel Studios had a film adaptation in development as early as 2008 but various factors kept the film from ever joining Marvel's slate of upcoming releases.  Drew Pearce's work on the script is what led to Kevin Feige selecting him to write the screenplay for Iron Man 3.