Oh boy, is it time for gritty reboots of classically wholesome properties? And this time around, it’s not even the CW!
Hulu is adapting the beloved Hardy Boys mystery novels into a TV show, and well, it’s hard to overlook that it really looks and sounds a lot like Riverdale:
Here’s the official synopsis:
Every town has its secrets. When the Hardy boys, Frank (16) and Joe (12), arrive in Bridgeport, they set out to uncover the truth behind the recent tragedy that has changed their lives, and in doing so, uncover something much more sinister. Something only they can stop.
So Hulu is looking to ride that gritty teen mystery trend, so it makes sense to grab one of the most instantly recognizable, but generally pretty vague, franchises. But it definitely runs in shades of Riverdale: the sleepy town that has all the dark secrets, kids snooping where they shouldn’t and finding out things the adults can’t, a band of friends coming together. All we need is a non-sensical drug ring, a tripped out Dungeons and Dragons rip off, and a kid in a weird hat, and we’ve got a full Riverdale.
Rohan Campbell and Alexander Elliot play brothers Frank and Joe, respectively, with James Tupper as their dad Fenton. The rest of the cast is made up of mostly unknown and background actors from other teen and kids shows, so it’ll be interesting to see what they bring to the table in terms of their performance.
This isn’t the only mystery book adaptation on the market; the CW is still airing Nancy Drew, which is is also keeping true to its teen origins. One has to wonder if this marks a second wave of this sub-genre, or just the beginning of the end?
The Hardy Boys premieres on Hulu on December 4, 2020.
