After spending years in cinematic limbo following the release of Disney’s visually ambitious but financially underwhelming John Carter (2012), Edgar Rice Burroughs’ iconic John Carter of Mars saga is set for a long-awaited revival.
According to The Wrap, a new animated series is officially in development, spearheaded by the Burroughs estate and led by experienced showrunner and author Michael Kogge, known for his Star Wars companion books and John Carter of Mars audiobooks.
The series promises to reintroduce the legendary pulp hero through a vivid, stylized animation style designed to fully capture the grandeur of Barsoom.
Fans will get their first glimpse of the project during a Burroughs-themed panel at San Diego Comic-Con this Friday.
The story centers on John Carter, a Civil War veteran mysteriously transported to Mars, known to locals as Barsoom, where he becomes a super-powered warrior due to the planet’s lower gravity.
He soon finds himself caught in interplanetary conflicts, facing off against alien creatures and rival factions while falling for the fiercely independent Dejah Thoris.
Many comic book historians have noted the clear influence of Burroughs’ work on early superhero fiction, particularly the original Action Comics version of Superman.
The series also helped inspire classic adventure icons like Conan the Barbarian, Flash Gordon, and even James Cameron’s Avatar.
While the 2012 live-action film gained a cult following, its box office failure halted any hopes for sequels.
This animated adaptation looks to soar past past iteration attempts, using the boundless creative potential (and budget-friendly medium) of modern animation to finally do justice to Burroughs’ influential vision.
In a press statement, Kogge expressed excitement about the format, stating, "In this era of incredible animation, with shows like ‘Castlevania,’ ‘Blood of Zeus’ and ‘Twilight of the Gods’ pushing the genre of fantasy action-adventure to new heights, there couldn’t be a better time for the Martian saga of John Carter and Princess Dejah Thoris to be told through bold, ground-breaking animation."
Jim Sullos and Wolf Larson, of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. will also be invovled in the project.
In a press statement, Sullos added, "The explosive rise of action-adventure animation has captivated audiences around the world, making it the perfect moment to launch our John Carter animated series. This marks a new era in storytelling for the Edgar Rice Burroughs universe and we’re excited that Michael Kogge will help bring Mars to life."
At this time, the project doesn’t appear to have an officially announced studio or streaming platform attached.
However, that could change soon. Be sure to stay tuned to Toonado for full coverage of the upcoming Comic-Con panel, where we’ll bring you any major updates or announcements as they happen.