Back in April, Syfy had announced their plans to an on-screen adaptation of Rick Remender and Wes Craig’s Deadly Class. “We’re committed to developing graphic novels for SYFY and have found a rich, compelling, truly unique world in Deadly Class,” said Bill McGoldrick, President, Scripted Content, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “Our producing partners expertly combined high school angst, 80s nostalgia, and comic flair into a beautifully realized, visually arresting pilot that truly brings Rick and Wes’ acclaimed comic series to life.”
Remender joins the project as a co-showrunner along with Miles Orion Feldsott and Mick Betancourt. Feldsott and Betancourt have also taken on the duties of executive producers with Joe and Anthony Russo (Avengers: Infinity War). The Russo brothers were fans of the comics.
“Deadly Class is one of the more twisted coming-of-age stories we’ve ever read,” Joe Russo said in a first look video over the summer. “It does an amazing job of exploring teenage years and the sense of alienation that you feel. The first time we read the book we were blown away. That’s why we’re standing here working on the show.”
The story follows a homeless teen, Marcus (Benjamin Wadsworth). Recruited by Master Lin (Avengers: Infinity War‘s Benedict Wong), he joins Kings Dominion which is a private academy where basically all the sons and daughters of the criminal world attend to learn how to be good at being a villain.
“He has to survive basic high school things, along with the fact that these kids are the world’s top trained assassins,” says Wadsworth of his character, Marcus.
“We [ask] the question: Can an ethical person survive in an unethical place?” says Remender. We’ll find out soon enough.
“Fans of the comic book are going to be delighted. Deadly Class is authentic, honest, and brutal. The threats are real,” Remender added.
You can watch the trailer for Syfy’s new show below.
The show will premiere on January 16.