We are thrilled to report that Kevin Smith is currently hard at work on a brand new animated project based on the classic hero, “The Green Hornet.” If you’ll recall, Smith once wrote a full film script based on his stint on the comic for Miramax that never happened, so it’s not like he doesn’t know the character or have history with him.
We know that this new “The Green Hornet” series will take place in a contemporary/modern setting, with a re-imagined Green Hornet and Kato as they battle crime in Century City. But this Hornet is the grown son of the original Green Hornet, and this Kato is the daughter of the original Kato.
In a released statement about the news, Smith said:
“It’s an honor to escort the legendary Green Hornet and Kato into their very own animated series for the first time in the rich history of these iconic pop culture characters! We’ll be telling a tale of two Hornets – past and future – that spans generations and draws inspiration from a lifetime spent watching classic cartoons and amazing animation like Batman: The Animated Series, Heavy Metal, and Super Friends. I can’t believe WildBrain gave me this job and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity to extend my childhood a little longer.”
Originating as a radio series created by George W. Trendle in the 1930s, “The Green Hornet” told the story of Britt Reid, the wealthy owner and publisher of the The Daily Sentinel newspaper. By day, Reid oversees his paper’s reporting on crime and injustice, but by night he dons his green mask and ventures across the city with his sidekick Kato – in their ultra high-tech car the Black Beauty– to battle criminals and villains head on.
EVP of Content and Current Series for WildBrain Stephanie Betts said of the news:
“We’re thrilled to embark on a new animated Green Hornet series with Kevin, who has set up an incredibly rich world with a cast of amazing characters – especially Kato, who is no longer just a sidekick, but is now a strong female partner to the Green Hornet,” added WildBrain EVP of content and current series Stephanie Betts. “With his ingenious talent and passion for superheroes and classic franchises, Kevin is the perfect creator to update the Green Hornet. We’re excited to share the new Green Hornet and Kato with audiences worldwide.”
Smith will be discussing the news on today’s episode of Fatman on Batman podcast, which starts at 8pm PST, that you can watch here on YouTube.
Whaddya think? Exciting, right? We can’t wait to see what the art style looks like!
