Cursed: 13 Reasons Why’s Katherine Langford to Star in Netflix Arthurian Series

Netflix is pulling a sword from a stone in its upcoming original series, Cursed. Based on King Arthur’s Lady of the Lake, 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.

Cursed puts a twist on the King Arthur legend, since it’s told through the eyes of the Excalibur-bestowing enchantress, the Lady of the Lake. The character is depicted here as a teenager, named Nimue, with a mysterious gift, and the coming-of-age series shows how she arrives on the road to her destiny. According to the plot description (via Variety), 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.”

Cursed Cast

Katherine Langford will star in Cursed as Nimue, reports Deadline. The role will serve as a quick Netflix homecoming for Langford, who, for two seasons, has starred on the streaming giant’s controversial teen drama, 13 Reasons Why as the posthumous-video-providing self-martyred teen, Hannah Baker. While that series was renewed for Season 3, Langford will not return. With momentum from 13 Reasons Why, Langford, an Aussie actress, banked movie appearances in director (and Arrowverse CW TV maestro,) Greg Berlanti’s recent rom-com, Love Simon, as well as the comedy-drama, The Misguided.

Cursed Details

“I have always been entranced by the mythological Arthur story—and by Nimue, in particular,” said Frank 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. However, we still don’t know when to expect the Netflix series.