Filmmaker Kevin Smith is returning to television. Smith, known for Clerks, Dogma, and Tusk, is adapting a classic comic book property for the small screen. The director is now making an animated series out of The Green Hornet. Smith, who’s also a comic book writer, has past experiences writing about the iconic crime-fighting duo, Brett Reid and Kato (once played by Bruce Lee on TV).
The Show
It’s an animated show, not live-action. The last time Smith made an animated show was Clerks, which has a strong cult following similar to a lot of the director’s works. Way back in the early 2000s, Smith was actually hired to write a big-screen adaptation of the comic book property. It never happened. Instead we got the Seth Rogen version of The Green Hornet a few years ago, which is an odd comic book movie with tonal whiplash. It goes from an unconventional comic book movie to a very conventional comic book movie at the drop of the hat.
A Word From Smith
Smith has written for Daredevil and other major comic book characters. Famously, he once wrote a draft for an unmade Superman movie Tim Burton was going to direct with Nicolas Cage. In a statement, Smith said his show is influenced by the likes of Batman: The Animated Series and Heavy Metal (via EW):
“It’s an honor to escort the legendary Green Hornet and Kato into their very own animated series for the first time in the rich history of these iconic pop culture characters. We’ll be telling a tale of two Hornets – past and future – that spans generations and draws inspiration from a lifetime spent watching classic cartoons and amazing animation like Batman: The Animated Series, Heavy Metal, and Super Friends. I can’t believe WildBrain gave me this job and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity to extend my childhood a little longer.”
Family-Friendly
Unlike almost all of Kevin Smith’s movies, The Green Hornet will be kid-friendly. The show will follow the son of the original Green Hornet and Kato’s daughter. They’ll fight crime in Century City, California, riding along in the Black Beauty. WildBrain, which owns Peanuts and Inspector Gadget, are behind the series. Stephanie Betts, who’s the EVP of Content at WildBrain, said:
“We’re thrilled to embark on a new animated Green Hornet series with Kevin, who has set up an incredibly rich world with a cast of amazing characters – especially Kato, who is no longer just a sidekick, but is now a strong female partner to the Green Hornet. With his ingenious talent and passion for superheroes and classic franchises, Kevin is the perfect creator to update the Green Hornet. We’re excited to share the new Green Hornet and Kato with audiences worldwide.”
Another Surprise from Kevin Smith
The Green Hornet isn’t the only adaptation of the iconic character in the works right. Earlier this year, a reboot of the character was announced. We’ll see if and when that version happens, but it sounds like we’ll see Smith’s animated version first. Over the last decade, the director has been stepping outside of his comfort zone again and again. Yes, it’s hard not to miss his heyday of chatty and profane but fluid dialogue with people just being people.
Now, Smith is making movies like Yoga Hosers, Red State, and Tusk, completely polarizing his fans. Good for him. He’s making the movies he wants to make, good or bad, and not what fans want him to make. Now, Smith is taking another unexpected turn in his career by making a Green Hornet show. With a kid-friendly tone, it’s easy to imagine Smith making the comic book show good fun.
