Brad Pitt’s Upcoming Netflix Show Adapts A Sci-Fi Book Even David Fincher Gave Up On

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I’ve been waiting ages for a good adaptation of Charles Burns’ Black Hole, and it’s looking like it might finally happen! Apparently, Brad Pitt and Netflix are teaming up, and I’m especially excited because the director of I Saw the TV Glow is at the helm. For those who don’t know, Black Hole is this incredible graphic novel – originally a comic series that came out between 1995 and 2005, and then collected into one book in 2005 – and I think this director is exactly who it needs.

This novel takes place in the suburbs of Seattle and centers around a group of teenagers who are cast out by their community after contracting a strange sexually transmitted disease, known as ‘The Bug.’ This illness causes disturbing physical changes in those infected. Though each teen faces personal challenges, they are united by their shared rejection and are forced to make a life for themselves in the woods.

Black Hole is a truly one-of-a-kind graphic novel – disturbing, unsettling, and surprisingly moving. It’s a story that stays with you long after you finish reading it. The narrative follows a serial killer who preys on people with a strange illness, ‘The Bug,’ and is filled with bizarre, dreamlike sequences that amplify the overall sense of horror.

Brad Pitt’s Plan B and Netflix Are Adapting Charles Burns’ Black Hole

Even just the stunning images from Black Hole make a movie adaptation feel promising, but the story itself is also captivating and unique. Fans will be thrilled to hear that Jane Schoenbrun, known for I Saw the TV Glow, is bringing this influential and unsettling graphic novel to the big screen.

Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B, is working with Netflix to create a series based on the graphic novel. Netflix gave the show a direct order for a full season in October 2025. New Regency will also help produce the series, with Schoenbrun leading the creative side as showrunner and Plan B overseeing production as executive producer.

Fans of Charles Burns, director David Schoenbrun, and sci-fi horror will be thrilled with this news. However, those familiar with the original Black Hole comic might be cautiously optimistic. Several attempts to adapt the story have been announced and then fallen through over the years, dating back to 2007 and as recently as 2018.

Black Hole Has Been In Development Hell For Decades

In 2007, Alexandre Aja, who had recently directed the 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes, was set to direct a film based on Black Hole. The script was penned by Roger Avary, known for Pulp Fiction, and Neil Gaiman. While Aja was a logical choice for the project—having previously directed the intense horror film Switchblade Romance in 2004—he wasn’t necessarily the most obvious fit.

Since then, Aja has worked on films like Piranha 3D, the 2013 thriller Horns, and the 2019 monster movie Crawl. While these projects showcase his skills, his strongest work proves he excels at creating wild, over-the-top horror, but struggles with stories focused on character development. His 2024 film, Never Let Go, further demonstrated his difficulty handling more complex, dramatic material.

Honestly, when I heard Aja’s take on Black Hole was canceled, I was a little relieved. It just didn’t feel quite right. Then, Variety reported that David Fincher was going to direct it, and that felt perfect. He’s so good at those character-driven stories with a bit of suspense. Sadly, he ended up leaving the project too, which was a real disappointment.

Surprisingly, David Fincher chose to make The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo instead of directing Black Hole. However, he revisited the idea of adapting the graphic novel again in late 2013. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts by Fincher, a version directed by Rick Famuyiwa, known for Dope, was announced in 2018 when New Regency obtained the rights to the novel.

The film Dope demonstrated Famuyiwa’s talent for realistically portraying adolescence, something Aja hadn’t really shown he could do. However, his previous work didn’t indicate any particular interest in horror. So, it wasn’t surprising when, after 2018, he began working on shows like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka instead.

Black Hole’s New Director Makes This Netflix Adaptation Uniquely Exciting

Fans have been disappointed by previous attempts to adapt the novel Black Hole after initial excitement in 2006. However, the positive reception of Netflix’s I Saw the TV Glow suggests that this adaptation might finally capture the spirit of the source material.

Schoenbrun is uniquely capable of bringing the graphic novel’s strange mix of disturbing imagery and nostalgic teen angst to life. Their previous films, I Saw the TV Glow and We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, successfully combined unsettling horror with a ‘90s vibe, creating a distinctive and timeless style that works perfectly with the source material.

Although the scary parts of Black Hole are unsettling, they occasionally distract from the overall mood of the book. The novel largely evokes the teenage frustration and concerns about life in the suburbs that you find in films like Gregg Araki’s Teenage Apocalypse trilogy and Penelope Spheeris’s 1983 film Suburbia.

Throughout much of Black Hole‘s story, the pressure to fit in feels as strong as the fear and suffering caused by ‘The Bug.’ Director Jane Schoenbrun, known for I Saw the TV Glow, clearly understands this kind of anxiety, suggesting that Netflix’s Black Hole might finally be the faithful adaptation fans have been waiting for.

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2025-12-11 21:29