A Classic Superhero That Predates Superman Getting TV Reboot From Iconic Director & Black Panther Writer

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While Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s Superman is often considered the first true superhero – and rightfully so, given his powers and the explosion of comic books he inspired – a few characters actually came before him. These earlier heroes usually had simpler powers or stories that weren’t as developed as Superman’s, and sometimes included ideas that wouldn’t be accepted today. Characters like Tarzan, Zorro, and The Phantom, created by Lee Falk, fit into this earlier category.

First appearing in 1936 – two years before Superman – The Phantom is a legendary adventure hero known from comic strips, books, animation, and even a movie. Now, King Features, owned by Hearst, is developing a new television series based on the character. While many classic properties are rebooted, this project stands out because acclaimed filmmaker Reginald Hudlin will be directing and producing it.

The Phantom Getting TV Reboot From Reginald Hudlin

As a lifelong movie fan, I’ll always remember Reginald Hudlin for directing the classic 90s comedy, House Party. But his career has been wonderfully all over the place! He’s done everything from the SNL spin-off The Ladies Man with Tim Meadows, to really thoughtful documentaries about legends like Sidney Poitier and Richard Pryor. More recently, he directed Chadwick Boseman in the Thurgood Marshall biopic and Eddie Murphy in the fun holiday movie, Candy Cane Lane – he really doesn’t stick to one genre, and I love that!

Those excited about the new take on The Phantom will be most interested in Hudlin’s comic book work. In the 2000s, he spent four years writing Marvel’s Black Panther, where he famously married Storm to the king of Wakanda and created characters like Shuri, who are still popular in Marvel comics and the MCU today. Hudlin clearly understands superheroes and how to update them for modern audiences, as he demonstrated with Black Panther and later when he helped revive the Milestone universe with DC.

The Phantom operates in the fictional African nation of Bangalla. Unlike many superheroes, he doesn’t have any superpowers. Instead, he relies on his intelligence, physical strength, his two guns, and his intimidating reputation. He’s actually the 21st person to take on the mantle of The Phantom, earning him the nickname “The Ghost Who Walks.” He’s also aided by his loyal wolf, Devil, in battles against criminal groups like the Singh Brotherhood and the Sky Band. All of these elements present exciting opportunities for Hudlin to reimagine the character.

The recent buzz around a potential Phantom TV series is likely connected to the fact that the earliest versions of the character will soon be available for anyone to use. While the original 1936 comic strips won’t enter the public domain until 2032, developing a show takes time, and with no network or streaming platform announced yet, it could still be several years before it’s released. It’s important to note that newer versions of The Phantom, like those published by Mad Cave Studios, will remain copyrighted. However, once the original stories are public domain, anyone will be able to create their own adaptations, which could create challenges for any official projects in development.

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2026-04-18 00:51