“Witchblade” comic adaptation set at NBC

PanARMENIAN.Net - NBC is looking to get back into the comic book genre.

The network is teaming with CSI grad Carol Mendelsohn and The Vampire Diaries showrunner Caroline Dries to adapt Marc Silvestri's Top Cow comic Witchblade, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The drama has landed at NBC with a script commitment.

Based on the graphic novel of the same name, the Sony Pictures Television drama centers on homicide detective Sara Pezzini, who's on the hunt for an elusive serial killer and must navigate the grisly streets and police politics of San Francisco’s Mission District — until one day, the bracelet she has worn her entire life gives her supernatural insight into a crime she’s trying to solve. Her bracelet is the Witchblade, an amulet that has been worn by remarkable women throughout history, and Sara is next in line.

Dries, who will wrap the CW vampire drama later this season, will pen the script and executive produce alongside Vampire Diaries writer/co-exec producer Brian Young. The drama will be exec produced by Sony TV-based Mendelsohn and her Carol Mendelsohn Productions topper Julie Weitz. Top Cow founder-owner Silvestri and Matt Hawkins also will exec produce, along with Circle of Confusion's Rick Jacobs and Dave Alpert (The Walking Dead).

The Witchblade reboot comes as NBC is poised to part with Friday supernatural staple Grimm, which will wrap its run later this season. The network exited the superhero genre a few years ago when it canceled DC Comics take Constantine after one season. (The Matt Ryan drama recently was revived as an animated series on The CW's digital platform, CW Seed, with the actor attached.)

Published from 1995-2001 by Image Comics imprint Top Cow, Witchblade previously was adapted for TV by TNT, which aired its Yancy Butler starrer for two seasons from 2001-2002. The title — created by Silvestri, Michael Turner, Brian Haberlin and David Wohl — has produced an anime series and a manga series, as well as a novel in 2006. It was adapted for the big screen, but that project ultimately was never produced.