A new report seemingly reveals that Netflix has cancelled the TV adaptation of Jeff Smith's beloved graphic novel Bone after three years. First published in 1991, the high fantasy comedy revolves around Fone Bone and his two cousins Phoncible P. "Phoney" Bone and Smile Bone as they are run out of their hometown and journey across a fantastical landscape on a quest to rescue the Valley from the evil Lord of the Locusts. Bone subsequently follows the three cousins as they venture through a variety of settings and embark on similar quests.

Bone has received largely positive reviews from critics across its 30 years of publications, with praise directed towards the simple-yet-effective art style, unique sense of humor and character development over its bimonthly release up to its 2004 conclusion. Thanks to its ongoing legacy, various efforts have been made to expand the graphic novel to other mediums, including a video game produced by Telltale Games, which ultimately only saw two episodes released, and a variety of films. Netflix was primed to properly bring Bone to the screen with an animated series, having acquired the rights in late 2019, though it now seems as though it's once again hit a speed bump.

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The Wrap has brought word that Netflix has reportedly cancelled the long-gestating Bone TV adaptation. The news comes on the heels of the streaming platform firing former Director of Creative Leadership and Development for Original Animation Phil Rynda and much of his staff, resulting in a major change at the Kids & Family space of Netflix animation. This has also reportedly resulted in the cancellation of a number of unnamed animated series and other in-development projects.

Bone Comic

Prior to Netflix acquiring the rights to Smith's graphic novels, Bone had been eyed for film adaptations beginning with Nickelodeon Movies in the late '90s, though the creator disapproved of the studio's pitches of child actors portraying the central trio and a soundtrack full of the era's pop songs. Warner Bros. would try their hand at the fantasy comedy saga in the late '00s, with multiple scripts being drafted and rejected for the proposed adaptation. The closest it came at the studio was when Kung Fu Panda co-director Mark Osborne was tapped to co-write and direct an animated Bone with plans for a potential trilogy, though it would quietly die in development hell prior to Netflix acquiring the rights.

News of Bone's reported cancellation at Netflix also comes on the heels of the streaming platform revealing a loss of 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter of 2022, the first time they've lost subscribers in a decade, with the company's stock also dropping 30 percent. Netflix has cited a variety of reasons for these numbers, namely its increased efforts to prevent password sharing and shutting down service in Russia amidst its invasion of Ukraine. With nearly 30 years of failed attempts under its belt, only time will tell whether Bone will finally see the light of day on the screen.

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Source: The Wrap