In an exclusive article released by Lion Forge Entertainment, the studio behind Iyanu and Hair Love, is turning the viral YouTube series Lostlings into long-form television series, Deadline reports. The show will first debut on the TalesVision YouTube channel before heading to streaming and linear platforms.
Set in the cursed town of Shadowbrook, Lostlings follows a yearly mystery where one teenager vanishes and returns exactly one year later without memory—until Jesse becomes the first who doesn’t return. With more than a hint of Stranger Things, the story kicks off a high-stakes teen rescue mission said in Deadline.
Lion Forge landed the rights after a “competitive bidding situation” says an article via Deadline. The original YouTube short-form version—created by digital storytellers Tristan Tales (Tristan Tales, Apocalypse Goals) and Luke Pounder (Snap Originals, The Giant Undertaking)—garnered more than 17 million views.
Tales and Pounder will write all episodes and serve as showrunners. “They have a unique ability to create content that is high quality, super watchable, globally appealing and spot-on for the YA audience,” said Stephanie Sperber, President and Chief Creative Officer of Lion Forge, via Deadline.
The creators’ “pocket pilot” strategy—where IP is tested through short-form online content—has become a key component of Lion Forge’s development model. “We are very enthusiastic about their YouTube-first model and are looking forward to exploring more IP through their ‘pocket pilot’ model,” Sperber told Deadline.
Lion Forge’s involvement builds on its expanding genre slate. The studio recently teamed with George R. R. Martin to adapt his novella A Dozen Tough Jobs into an adult animated feature. It also formed a strategic alliance with Oware to develop YA content from outside the U.S.
CEO David Steward II and Sperber will executive produce the new series alongside Tales and Pounder. “Tristan and Luke are amazing creators who meet the audiences where they are,” Sperber said, in quotes via Deadline.