Cursed: Lady of the Lake Netflix Series Coming from Frank Miller

Netflix is pulling a sword from a stone in its upcoming original series Cursed. Based on King Arthur’s Lady of the Lake figure, the project comes from comic book writer/artist Frank Miller (The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City) and Puss in Boots writer/producer Tom Wheeler. The 10-episode series is based on Miller and Wheeler’s upcoming illustrated young adult book Cursed, according to Variety.

Cursed is told through the eyes of the Lady of the Lake character from the King Arthur legend, Nimue. The character is a teenager with a mysterious gift, and the series shows how she came to be on the road to her destiny.

After her mother dies, Nimue joins a young mercenary named Arthur, on his quest to find the magician Merlin and deliver an ancient sword. The future Lady of the Lake become a symbol of courage and rebellion against the “terrifying Red Paladins, and their complicit King Uther,” according to Variety.

“I have always been entranced by the mythological Arthur story—and by Nimue, in particular,” said Miller said in a statement after the book announcement,  per CBR. “It can be interpreted in any number of ways — from a delightful children’s story, as in The Sword in the Stone, to a terrifying interpretation like Excalibur. This tale represents an incredible opportunity and an exciting challenge for me as an illustrator, and I’m excited to collaborate on the story with Thomas Wheeler. I inherited a collection of antique children’s books from my mother, and I’ve always wanted to have a crack at it myself. This project is a dream come true.”

Miller, who co-directed Sin City with Robert Rodriguez, also wrote the graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, and 300. He created the character Elektra for Marvel Comics’ Daredevil series, and the character Carrie Kelley for DC Comics.  Miller wrote and directed The Spirit, which was based on the Will Eisner comic book series.

Wheeler co-wrote Lego: Ninjago Movie for Warner Brothers. He also is currently writing the sequel to the Shrek spinoff Puss in Boots. Michael Bay will direct his original screenplay Vostok for Paramount Pictures. He wrote the screenplay for the live-action adaptation of the cartoon Dora the Explorer. It will be directed by James Bobin and come out for 2019 release date.

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing will release Cursed in Fall 2019.