'Gargoyles' Live-Action Series In Early Development For Disney+ From Atomic Monster

'Annabelle' writer Gary Dauberman will be the creative force behind the remake of the beloved ‘90s toon

Could it be? Could they live again? Screenwriter and director Gary Dauberman and horror powerhouse production company Atomic Monster are collaborating on a live action Gargoyles series, based on the standout 1994-1997 animated series from The Disney Afternoon. It is in early development at Disney Branded Television.

Dauberman, who will write, executive produce and showrun the series, and Atomic Monster, founded by James Wan and run by him and Michael Clear, have previously worked together for several Conjuring Universe films, including The Nun and all three Annabelle films, including Annabelle: Creation and Annabelle Comes Home, his directorial debut. For Warner Bros., Dauberman wrote both chapters of It films and wrote and directed a Salem’s Lot remake awaiting release (and that might be moved to Max). Their collaboration also includes the DC Universe streaming series Swamp Thing.

The original series, created by Greg Weisman and made at Disney Television Animation, saw Scottish gargoyles placed under a curse a thousand years prior, broken by the marvels of modern New York skyscraper architecture thanks to said castle being bought by David Xanatos. Now awakened, they take on the responsibility of protecting the city however possible. In a sea of Disney Afternoon programming that included DuckTales, Goof Troop, Bonkers, Darkwing Duck, TaleSpin, and The Shnookums & Meat Funny Cartoon Show, Gargoyles was a standout for its more complex storylines, enthralling and darker tones, being seen as Disney’s answer and a peer to X-Men and Batman: The Animated Series.

While the franchise has laid dormant for much of the 25+ years since its cancellation, there’s been a bit of a resurgence. In the series finale of the DuckTales reboot, a series that incorporated elements of most other Disney Afternoon series, Manny the Headless Man Horse regains full life and mobility, including the ability to speak, and he’s voiced by Keith David, voice of lead gargoyle Goliath, getting to utter “I live again!” as the character had so famously done. Sure enough, in resorting to his true form to fend off foes, his transformation is set to the Gargoyles theme song. In addition, in Disney Channel short-form series like Broken Karaoke and Chibi Tiny Tales with Chibiverse along the way, characters including Goliath, Xanatos, Demona, Lexington and Bronx have appeared.

A live-action Gargoyles series would add to the pile of Disney Afternoon revisits the company has done in the last decade. In addition to the very encompassing DuckTales reboot there’s the Emmy-winning Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers movie released last year starring John Mulaney and Andy Samberg, and a Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg-produced Darkwing Duck reboot that’s been in the works at Point Grey Pictures since late 2020.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter