Michael Bay is teaming up with Netflix for a new TV show based on a best-selling indie comic book. Barbaric has been confirmed to be coming to the streamer after first being announced in 2024. Hailing from the folks at Vault Comics, the violent series boasts an A-list cast of creators both in front of and behind the camera. 

 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Barbaric has been given the green light at Netflix. Sheldon Turner (X-Men First Class) will write the series with Robert Rovner (Supergirl), who are both on board as showrunners as well. Bay is due to direct at least some of the episodes. Sam Claflin (Peaky Blinders) is also on board to star alongside Patrick Stewart (X-Men). 

 

Here is the synopsis for Barbaric. 

 

“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 comic was first launched by Vault in 2021. It has since gone on to sell more than 600,000 copies. As for Stewart, he’s no stranger to comic book fare. He’s long played Professor X in the X-Men movies. He’s due to reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday in December. Jennifer Klein, Barry Jossen, Tana Jamieson, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, F.J. DeSanto, Damian Wassel, Luke Carroll, Michael Stevenson and Claflin are also on board as executive producers. 

 

Bay, meanwhile, is known for his blockbuster fare. While he hasn’t yet directed a comic book movie, he was long attached to a Lobo movie for DC. That never came to fruition. This gives him a chance to play in a comic book sandbox, but one not connected to Marvel or DC. That could give him a little more freedom to inject some Bayhem into the proceedings. 

 

As a director, Bay is best known for the Transformers movies, having directed five of them. He’s rumored to be directing a new Transformers movie for Paramount, but that has yet to be confirmed. The last movie he helmed was Ambulance, which was released in 2022. He previously directed 6 Underground for Netflix. 

 

There’s no word yet on how soon production could begin but now that Netflix has given the show the green light, things should start moving more quickly. They have the team in place and the pieces are on the board. A 2027 release wouldn’t be out of the question at this point. 

 

Barbarian doesn’t currently have a release date but stay tuned. 

 

What do you think? Are you interested in the show? Have you read the comic? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!