Jupiter's Legacy comics creator Mark Millar opens up about the possibility of a second season of the Netflix adaptation and confirms a story plan is already mapped out for the next chapter. Based on Millar and Frank Quitely's Image Comics series of the same name, the story centers on a group of superheroes who gained their powers in the 1930s but in the present day find their super-powered children struggling to live up to their legacies. The ensemble cast for the series includes Josh Duhamel, Leslie Bibb, Ben Daniels, Andrew Horton, Matt Lanter, and Elena Kampouris.
Development on the series first began in summer 2018 when Netflix gave an eight-episode series order for the project with Daredevil alum Steven S. DeKnight developing and executive producing. However, September of next year saw DeKnight depart midway through production due to creative differences. He was replaced by Sang Kyu Kim as showrunner the following month. Having finally debuted in early May, the series earned mixed-to-generally-negative reviews from critics, though fans have been much more favorable in their response.
In an interview with ComicBook.com to discuss the series and the comics sequel, Millar confirmed he and the creative team behind the series have already begun looking to its future. Though not having heard the official go-ahead from Netflix yet as viewership numbers still pour in, he revealed the talks are going on about how to continue the story past its first season. Read Millar's full comments below:
"We know where we're going. I mean the books are a good template. You know, the books are all sitting there for us so ... we have a very rough plan, but we know it all depends on hopefully, not to get too cocky, that the audience responds the way we think they will, but we feel good about it. Like we feel as if people are going to like this; the response so far has been amazing. So we really feel this has got a lot of likes, I think. So, yeah, we do. I mean, we talk privately all the time about what we'd like to do but nothing can be formal until we get our numbers."
Finding the right balance between a straight adaptation of a graphic novel or comic book series and keeping a few surprises and changes is one of the biggest challenges writers have discussed in the past, especially when it comes to a small screen adaptation. With Jupiter's Legacy already having displayed some major changes from its source material, using the comics as a continued template for carrying the show onward certainly makes sense given the large scope of the series. But, more importantly, Millar and his team having any kind of plan, even if it's indeed "rough," at least indicates a more stable flow of creative juices behind the scenes that would ensure a more balanced second season, unlike the foibles Starz's American Gods adaptation went through as it jumped from one showrunner to another.
Though Netflix used to be known as the platform that wouldn't cancel any series right away, it's hard to ignore the critical reception for the series when looking at its future. While series such as Space Force have been able to continue on after lackluster first outings with critics, the expense a show based on a comic book can bring is certainly a factor to consider when discussing whether it can return. But given fan reception has been positive, there's certainly still a chance for Jupiter's Legacy to take off to new and higher territory.
Source: ComicBook.com