It was announced yesterday that Nick Grad Eric Schrier, Presidents of original programming, FX Networks and FX Production would be going forward with a television adaptation Y: The Last Man. Originally published by Vertigo from 2002 through 2008, Y: The Last Man is a 60-issue post-apocalyptic science fiction comic book series by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. It received three Eisner Awards, and the first Hugo award for Best Graphic Story for Y: The Last Man, Volume 10. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series, Y: The Last Man features a story in which all the men are dead, but one. This desolation of masculinity leads to the inevitable leadership of femininity in which a new world order of women become the embodiments for the narrative’s exploration of gender, race, class, and survival.
Initially expressed for television adaptation by French director Louis Leterrier in 2010, then again by FX might be interested in 2015. It wasn’t until 2016 that reports started coming through of Michael Green serving as show-runner and later in 2018, the series became far more of a reality as FX finally bought the pilot and ordered the series, with almost everyone involved seemingly huge fans of the comics.
“Y: The Last Man is a towering achievement among graphic novel storytelling,” said Nick Grad, “Michael Green and Aïda Mashaka Croal have partnered with Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson to deliver a stunning new expression of this fascinating and timely story. Melina Matsoukas, who directed the pilot, did an incredible job bringing it to life with Diane Lane and this stellar cast.”
Croal and Green would discuss their affinity for the comic-series as well, when asked they replied: “Brian and Pia’s exploration of a world without men is a favorite for its depth, its humor, its insights, and its monkey. Adapted today, it offers us a cracked mirror to look at our own very cracked world. We thank them for their trust — we thank FX for their support — and we thank the casting gods for letting us work with this incredible group of actors.”
Michael Green — a busy man in his own right as Showrunner for American Gods and screenwriter for Blade Runner 2049, Logan, Arrival, and many other break-out films from 2017 — and Aïda Mashaka Croal — one of the many minds behind Luke Cage and Turn — will serve as Show-runners and Executive Producers. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force — American Crime Story, Pose, Crazy Rich Asians — and Brian K. Vaughan are Executive Producers and developers of the series. Melina Matsoukas — Insecure, Master of None, Beyoncé: Formation — is the director of the pilot episode and also serves as Executive Producer.
Diane Lane will star, leading an ensemble cast featuring Barry Keoghan, Imogen Poots, Lashana Lynch, Juliana Canfield, Marin Ireland, and Amiber Tamblyn. A release date has not been announced as of yet.