The pilot for The Lost Boys television series, which is currently in the works at the CW, continues filming despite a near-industry wide coronavirus shutdown. A franchise which began with the 1987 film of the same name, The Lost Boys centers on two brothers who move to a new town and find themselves entangled with a gang of young vampires. Featuring an ensemble cast, the movie spawned two relatively recent sequels. It also led to a novelization and a comic book series.
It was announced, back in August 2016, that a television adaptation of The Lost Boys was being developed. Rob Thomas, known for creating Veronica Mars and iZombie, would write and executive produce the project alongside Heather Mitchell. The adaptation’s story has gone through a number of changes since then. At one point, the series would have taken the form of a 70-year arc which would have unfolded over the course of seven seasons. That approach has been reworked significantly in an attempt to match the film’s premise. The Lost Boys show as it stands now will follow a mother and her sons as they move to a seaside town. The family soon discovers the sinister reason why the local cool kids never grow old, and this leads to the brothers ending up on opposite ends of a mythological struggle.
The Lost Boys adaptation has taken a long time to debut, though it’s moved along briskly as of late with casting announcements that offer more specifics about the long-awaited CW series. As worries about the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus continue to alter the entertainment industry, with movies being delayed and talk shows going dark, scripted television has also taken a hit. Pilot season, in particular, has experienced major disruptions. In a breakdown of the current situation, Deadline notes that The Lost Boys continues filming its pilot episode with the intention of finishing production. This Country, which is a comedy planned for FOX, has made a similar decision.
The two shows are outliers. Universal Television and Disney TV Studios have temporarily pulled the plug on all their in-season pilots. CBS TV Studios reached a similar decision, while Warner Bros. TV have made individual assessments so far. In terms of programs that are already established, a large number of shows have closed down. That includes Atlanta, Supernatural, and The Walking Dead.
These unexpected stops may prove to have long-term prospects. Pilots that were previously poised to receive a series order might get passed on if the pause on production goes on for too long. Some shows, like Superstore, have opted to cut their seasons short. Series finales may not air as scheduled. In the case of The Lost Boys, it might mean that the CW adaptation experiences yet another snag.
Source: Deadline