Hulu is officially expanding its slate of dark mystery procedurals with a television series adaptation of the 2020 film The Kid Detective. The project, which is in development, is being positioned as a spiritual successor to Veronica Mars, a franchise that previously found a home on the streaming platform for its fourth season and feature film.
The series is set to be written and executive produced by Alex Berger, whose previous work on The Mentalist and Blindspot suggests a lean toward the “procedural-noir” style. Evan Morgan, the writer and director of the original 2020 mystery-comedy film, is also attached to the project as an executive producer, ensuring the adaptation maintains the specific tonal balance of the source material.
The original film followed a once-celebrated child investigator who, as a jaded adult, continued to solve trivial cases until a real murder land on his desk. The logline for the Hulu series follows a similar trajectory: a washed-up former kid detective is given a final shot at redemption when a new missing persons case reopens a cold case from his childhood. This “redo” approach allows the series to expand on the film’s world with a potentially higher budget and broader narrative scope.
Production and Casting Status
A significant point of discussion for the new adaptation is the status of Adam Brody, who received critical acclaim for his performance in the original film. As of the current development phase, Brody is not attached to the series. However, industry sources suggest that because the project is in the early stages, his involvement has not been ruled out entirely.
Hulu’s decision to develop the series aligns with its established niche for adult-oriented mystery reboots. The platform has a history of catering to fans of the “kid-detective-grown-up” trope, most notably through its revival of Veronica Mars. By bringing in Berger, who recently worked on The Perfect Couple, Hulu appears to be aiming for a polished, high-stakes version of the original Canadian indie film’s gritty atmosphere.
Joining Berger and Morgan on the executive production team are Rachel Kaplan of Absecon Entertainment, along with Jonathan Bronfman and Will Woods, both of whom served as producers on the original film. While casting for the lead role and the return of other original cast members, such as Sophie Nélisse, remains unconfirmed, the involvement of the original creative team points toward a faithful translation of the film’s subversive humor and bleak noir elements.
The series is expected to provide a fresh entry point for viewers unfamiliar with the 2020 movie while offering a deeper exploration of the protagonist’s arrested development and the dark underbelly of his small town. No official release window has been set as the project continues through its initial development phase.
