Summary
The Spiderwick Chroniclesshow created forDisney Plushas found a new avenue for fans to see the world of the beloved children’s book series come to life.
The Spiderwick Chroniclesis a popular children’s book series that centers around the three Grace children. In the book series, the Grace family moves into the titular Spiderwick Estate and discovers the existence of all sorts of mythical creatures that lead the children on seemingly whimsical adventures, eventually cumulating in a high-stakes struggle against evil with the fate of the world at stake. The live-action adaptation was greenlit forDisney Plusand started production in 2022, ayear with some great fantasy serieson offer that likely served as motivation for the streamer.
Unfortunately,Disney canceled plans for theSpiderwick Chroniclesshowamid cost-cutting decisions, leaving Paramount TV Studios and 20th Television to shop for a new home to air the already-completed project. Now,Deadlinereports that the series has found its salvation in a rival streaming platform after more than a month of uncertainty, as Disney Plus competitor Roku snapped up the series for release in early 2024. In addition to the general cost-cutting tactic, the eight-episode adaptation of the children’s book series was seemingly rejected because the material was darker than usual for the Disney Plus platform, which includes the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, most canonStar Warscontent, and more.
TheSpiderwick Chroniclesshow’s new home on Roku is a victory for Paramount, who also recently started cost-cutting measures, which included the cancellation that causedStar Trek: Prodigyfans to fly a banner over streamer HQsin a bid to save the series. “We are elated that The Spiderwick Chronicles has found a new home and want to thank The Roku Channel for their passionate partnership,” Paramount TV Studios President Nicole Clemens said. “Our showrunner Aron Eli Coleite has crafted a beautiful series full of all the enchantment that made the books so beloved, and we can’t wait for audiences to meet these wonderful characters.” The franchise is ripe for re-introduction into the popular consciousness, a fact that Disney likely saw clearly before deciding to focus on its own expansive list of company-owned IPs.
The new acquisition is the company’s biggest move in a while, as it has generally subsisted off of content acquired afterRoku confirmed buying Quibi’s content catalogto bolster its streaming library back in 2021. “It is an honor to bring The Spiderwick Chronicles, a spectacular adventure-filled story led by the incredible Christian Slater and Joy Bryant, exclusively to The Roku Channel,” Brian Tannenbaum, Head of Originals at Roku Media, explained. “We cannot wait to introduce this exquisitely crafted series, imagined by a world-class creative team, to millions of streamers.”
While Disney Plus might have passed on a good thing inThe Spiderwick Chronicles,the streamer isn’t hurting for appeal in the show’s target demographic, as the Disney PlusPercy Jacksonadaptation is the bigger draw in terms of its existing audience. While the franchise has seen some less-than-stellar adaptations in the 2010s, theDisney PlusPercy Jacksonseries has already fixed many mistakesthat the film adaptations made based on content seen in the promotional material. The success ofThe Spiderwick ChroniclesandPercy Jacksonshows can only be speculated on until release.
The Spiderwick Chronicleswill premiere on the Roku streaming service in early 2024.
