Netflix to Adapt Vault Comics’ Fantasy Series Barbaric

Netflix has another big-budget comic book adaptation in the works, with the streamer giving a series order to Barbaric, based on the Vault Comics title.

As reported by Variety, the news came during Netflix’s upfront presentation to advertisers. The series’ official logline teases, “A ruthless and crass barbarian is cursed to only use his violence only for good, which sends him, his talking axe and a young witch on a road of self-discovery, redemption and revenge.”

The Barbaric comic was created by writer Michael Moreci and artist Nathan Gooden. The Netflix series will be helmed by writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner Sheldon Turner (Up in the Air), executive producer and co-showrunner Robert Rovner (Supergirl), and executive producer Jennifer Klein. The show’s executive producers also include Barry Jossen, Tana Jamieson, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, F.J. DeSanto, Damian Wassel, Sam Claflin, Luke Carroll, and Michael Stevenson.

Barbaric revolves around a barbarian named Owen, a formerly bloodthirsty warrior cursed to become a good and noble hero. Owen wields a talking axe who serves as the series’ comic relief character, and he quickly joins forces with a mysterious, troubled witch named Soren.

As Variety notes, word of a Barbaric series first surfaced in 2024. At the time, the series was expected to star Claflin and Patrick Stewart, but no actors have officially signed on yet.

There’s no word on a possible release date yet for Netflix’s Barbaric adaptation. Let us know in the comments below if you’re excited for the new series.

In other Netflix news, IGN has the full scoop on the Duffer Bros.’ next big project, The Boroughs.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.