“Grubbs,” a Keenspot all-ages webcomic that draws inspiration from “Calvin & Hobbes” and “Dennis the Menace,” is slated for an animated TV series adaptation penned by M.J. Offen. Also the head writer of the Cartoon Network and HBO Max animated series “Jade Armor,” Offen serves as showrunner and is scripting the pilot, co-producing with Keenspot’s Chris Crosby, Bobby Crosby and “Grubbs” creator Max Weaver.
The announcement comes hot off the heels of the theatrical debut of “Marry Me,” which was based on the Keenspot graphic novel of the same name from creator Bobby Crosby. The rom-com, starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, rose high on streaming charts on Valentine’s Day. Adapted by “She-Hulk” director Kat Coiro, “Marry Me” currently holds a 60% critics score and a 92% audience score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
Related Stories
VIP+Despite ‘Joker’ Folly and ‘The Penguin’ Success, DC Studios Still Untested
Trump and Harris to Appear at Separate Univision Town Halls With Latino Voters
“I see Grubbs’ potential as a troublemaker we love to see act up, like Calvin or Dennis or Bart, but in today’s world, pulling shenanigans is going to go very differently,” Offen said. “Grubbs is the lovable troublemaker we need.”
Popular on Variety
The animated show is now in pre-production with a planned launch this holiday season, with Grace Diamaranan of Glass House Studios’ Top Peg division overseeing the cartoon’s production. Voice casting is slated to happen this spring.
“Grubbs,” which is distributed in book form by Simon & Schuster, was originally drawn by newspaper cartoonist Ted Dawson and is now being illustrated by “Marry Me” artist Remy “Eisu” Mokhtar. It tells the story of 8-year-old Billy Watson (a name rather similar to that of the creator of “Calvin & Hobbes,” Bill Watterson), a “pint-sized chaos agent” who is called “Grubbs” by his big brother Zane. Grubbs, with the help of his imaginary friend Tyler, causes trouble wherever he goes. The comic is drawn in an old-school style with a modern spin. Its next comic book issue, “Grubbs Spring Break Extravaganza,” hits stores next month.
Offen previously served as head of story for girls brands at Mattel, and was also head of animation at Jash, a comedy collective co-founded by Sarah Silverman, Tim Heidecker, Michael Cera, Eric Wareheim and Reggie Watts. While at Jash, Offen was involved in producing over 200 shorts. Additionally, Offen was creative director of animation at Maker Studios and is currently serving as head writer for “Jade Armor,” a French animation series from TeamTO that will begin airing this summer. Offen was repped in the deal by Peter McHugh of The Gotham Group and attorney Bradley Garrett of Cohen & Gardner Law. Evan Anglin at Zero Gravity Management reps Glass House Studios.
Read More About:
Jump to CommentsMore from Variety
‘Thursday Night Football’: How to Watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons Online Without Cable
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Success Doesn’t Downplay Risky Reboots Coming to Theaters
MLB Playoffs 2024: How to Watch Division Series Online
‘Sunday Night Football’: How to Watch Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Live Online
Why the Video Game Industry Can’t Shake Its Struggles
How to Watch the WNBA 2024 Playoffs Live Online
Most Popular
Inside the 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Debacle: Todd Phillips ‘Wanted Nothing to Do’ With DC on the $200 Million Misfire
‘Kaos’ Canceled After One Season at Netflix
‘Menendez Brothers’ Netflix Doc Reveals Erik’s Drawings of His Abuse and Lyle Saying ‘I Would Much Rather Lose the Murder Trial Than Talk About Our…
Kathy Bates Won an Oscar and Her Mom Told Her: ‘You Didn't Discover the Cure for Cancer,’ So ‘I Don't Know What All the Excitement Is About…
Saoirse Ronan Says Losing Luna Lovegood Role in ‘Harry Potter’ Has ‘Stayed With Me Over the Years’: ‘I Was Too Young’ and ‘Knew I Wasn't Going to Get…
‘Joker 2’ Director Says Arthur Fleck Was Never Joker: ‘He's an Unwitting Icon’ and Joker Is ‘This Idea That Gotham People Put on Him…
‘Joker 2’ Axed Scene of Lady Gaga’s Lee Kissing a Woman at the Courthouse Because ‘It Had Dialogue in It’ and ‘Got in the Way’ of a Music…
Andrew Garfield Says Sex Scene With Florence Pugh in ‘We Live in Time’ Went a ‘Little Bit Further’ Than Intended: ‘We Never Heard Cut…
‘Skyfall’ Director Sam Mendes Says James Bond Studio Prefers Filmmakers ‘Who Are More Controllable’: ‘I Would Doubt’ I’d…
Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried to Star in ‘The Housemaid’ Adaptation From Director Paul Feig, Lionsgate
Must Read
- Film
COVER | Sebastian Stan Tells All: Becoming Donald Trump and Starring in 2024’s Most Controversial Movie
By Andrew Wallenstein 3 weeks
- TV
Menendez Family Slams Netflix’s ‘Monsters’ as ‘Grotesque’ and ‘Riddled With Mistruths’: ‘The Character Assassination of Erik and Lyke Is Repulsive…
- TV
‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Part 2 to Air on CBS After Paramount Network Debut
- TV
50 Cent Sets Diddy Abuse Allegations Docuseries at Netflix: ‘It’s a Complex Narrative Spanning Decades’ (EXCLUSIVE)
- Shopping
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Sets Digital and Blu-ray/DVD Release Dates
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Variety Confidential
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXN%2Bjq2taKaVrMBwt8Sepayon6l6qL7Um5msZaear6S7zKKaZqWRp7%2B6ecyeZJqmmaKutbHDZquvZaOdvLh5zKNkqJ6WmrtufZFsbGpwaG2Ad3s%3D