Guillermo del Toro is partnering with HBO to develop a potential series called Monster, based on a Japanese Manga series by the author Naoki Urasawa. The project was originally developed as a potential motion picture, but the material proved too expansive to limit to a feature length film. Del Toro is set to co-write the series along with Steven Thompson, who is known for his work on Dr. Who and Sherlock, and will direct the pilot.
The series will focus on a young doctor whose decision to save a young boy’s life years before has resulted in serious consequences for the future. Little did the doctor know that the boy he saved was a young sociopath conditioned to become a homicidal "monster". The doctor then makes it his mission to correct his past mistake. The judgment to transform the would-be film into a long running series for HBO was certainly wise, since the source material is narratively complex, and any watering down of the story would have negatively affected the final product. The original story is a darkly intriguing chronicle involving an array of themes and characters that make it ideal for long form programming. The nature of the material is also an ideal match for Del Toro, who is known for his atmospheric and stylized work.
Del Toro is most known for his comic book film adaptations (Hellboy, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Blade II) as well as his majestic, Oscar-winning film Pan’s Labyrinth. His creative track record definitely makes this a series to anticipate.
