Hulu is building a TV series out of The Kid Detective, the 2020 film about a washed-up ex-kid detective who gets pulled back into the childhood murder he never solved. Variety reports the adaptation is in development, and the project has a clear creative team attached even as the star of the original film remains unattached.
Evan Morgan, who wrote and directed the movie, is on board as an executive producer. Alex Berger will write and executive produce, while Rachel Kaplan of Abescon Entertainment joins as an executive producer too. Jonathan Bronfman and Will Woods, who produced the film, are producing the series as well. Adam Brody, who played the titular kid detective Abe Applebaum in the film, is not attached at this time.
The Missing Persons Case at the Center
The logline for the series puts the setup plainly: “When a missing persons case reopens the childhood murder he never solved, a washed-up former kid detective gets one last shot at proving his best days aren’t behind him.” It is a premise built for a man who spent his youth solving crimes and now finds himself facing the one he could not crack.
Brody starred as Abe Applebaum in the film, which debuted at TIFF in 2020. The movie was well received by critics upon its release. Tomris Laffly reviewed it for Variety, noting the film’s dark humor and its handling of heavy subjects. Laffly wrote that the film splendidly summons film noir-esque vibes, classically ghastly bad guys and femme fatale types out of a whimsical small town full of grotesque mysteries.
The Creative Team Behind the Series
Berger brings television experience to the project. He most recently worked on “CIA” at CBS, and his credits also include “The Perfect Couple” at Netflix and “Quantum Leap” for NBC. Other shows on his resume include “Blindspot,” “The Mentalist,” “Franklin & Bash,” and “Glenn Martin DDS.”
Kaplan comes from Keshet Studios, where she served as head of scripted TV before launching Abescon studios in 2020. Under that banner, she has executive produced shows like “La Brea” at NBC and has projects in active development across a range of streamers and networks. During her time with Keshet, she shepherded shows like “The Baker and the Beauty,” “Lincoln Rhyme: The Hunt for the Bone Collector,” and “Wisdom of the Crowd.”
What the Film Actually Delivered
Laffly’s review captures the tone of the film: dark, funny, and willing to grapple with murder and abuse alongside the existential dread of a man who fell short of the life he expected. The film’s reception suggests there is audience appetite for a character who failed to solve a crime in his past and now gets a second chance at redemption.
The Premise Sells Itself
A washed-up former kid detective gets one last shot at solving the murder he never solved.
Who Is Attached and Who Isn’t
The key attachment is Morgan, the filmmaker who made the original. His presence as executive producer signals that the project is staying close to the vision of the film. Berger’s writing credit means the adaptation will likely carry his distinctive voice, though his representation through UTA, A.B. Fischer, and Yorn Levine adds another layer of industry positioning.
Kaplan’s involvement through Abescon adds another executive producer credit to the project, with Bronfman and Woods producing the series as they did the film. Brody, meanwhile, is not attached at this time, which leaves the question of who might play the lead open.
The Star Problem
Brody is not attached at this time. The actor appeared in the film.
The film’s debut at TIFF and its critical reception suggest the property has legs.
Key Facts Box
- Film: The Kid Detective (2020)
- Original director/writer: Evan Morgan
- Star: Adam Brody
- Series writer/executive producer: Alex Berger
- Executive producers: Rachel Kaplan, Evan Morgan, Jonathan Bronfman, Will Woods
- Brody’s status: Not attached at this time
- Variety review: Tomris Laffly
The premise stands on its own.
Source material: “‘Kid Detective’ Series Adaptation in the Works at Hulu (EXCLUSIVE),” Variety.
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