The adaptation of Howard Waldrop’s novella reimagines the Greek ’12 Labors of Hercules’ in 1920s Mississippi with a sharecropper fighting to regain his freedom; France’s Blue Spirit to animate.
Lion Forge Entertainment is teaming with George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon) to adapt Howard Waldrop’s renowned novella, A Dozen Tough Jobs into an adult animated feature film. The film, a reimagining of the Greek classic “12 Labors of Hercules,” is set in 1920s Mississippi, where Hercules is re-envisioned as a former sharecropper fighting to regain his freedom. The movie will be produced by George R.R. Martin, Lion Forge Entertainment CEO and founder David Steward II, and Lion Forge President and Chief Creative Officer Stephanie Sperber.
Award-winning author Joe R. Lansdale (Bubba Ho-Tep, Hap & Leonard) is writing the screenplay. French animation studio Blue Spirit, the Emmy-winning studio behind Netflix’s Emmy winning Blue Eye Samurai, will provide animation services for the film under Lion Forge Animation.
According to Lion Forge, the film takes place in a world filled with good ol’ boys, southern belles, children of ex-slaves, chain gangs, and rum-runners. They bill it as “gothic, magical-realist re-telling of the Hercules hero’s journey.”
Descended from slaves, Hercules has just been released from prison for a heinous crime, being remanded into servitude under the wicked Boss Eustice. To avoid being sent back to prison, he must complete an escalating series of deadly adventures that mirror the 12 Labors: slaying the Nemean lion, stealing the golden apples from Hesperides, and abducting the three-headed dog Cerberus from Hades. From the swamps of the bayou to the gates of Hell, his journey of penance will lead to freedom… if he survives.
“If anyone understands the power of epic stories and expansive franchises, it’s George R.R. Martin,” said Steward II. “With A Dozen Tough Jobs, we’re reimagining a timeless legend through fresh, culturally rich lenses. This isn’t just a retelling — it’s a groundbreaking take, unlike anything audiences have seen before, grounded in history but pushing myth into uncharted territory.”
“We are looking forward to working with Blue Spirit, one of the best animation houses working in the field today,” said Sperber. “Their elevated style and craft will bring the world of 1920’s deep South to life in a way that will make audiences sit up and take notice, just as they did with Blue Eye Samurai.”
The acclaimed, prolific author Martin is best known for his bestselling fantasy novel series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” which was adapted into the Emmy-winning HBO series Game of Thrones.
Waldrop, a lifelong friend of Martin's, was an well-known short story writer and winner of the Science Fiction Writers of American Nebula Award as well as the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Lion Forge Entertainment just announced their Cartoon Network and Max series, Iyanu, has been picked-up for a second season as well as for two feature films. The company develops and produces animated and live-action content targeting kids & family, YA and adult audiences, building on the success of earlier Lion Forge Animation projects including the Oscar-winning short, Hair Love.
Source: Lion Forge Entertainment
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
