Coming to Netflix in February is Locke & Key, a new supernatural series based on the series of comic book mini-series published by IDW Publishing, created by Joe Hill (aka Joseph Hillstrom King, son of Stephen King).
The story behind Locke & Key involves three siblings and their mother who, after their father is murdered, moves to his ancestral home, Keyhouse, in Lovecraft, Massachusetts. Hidden within the home are several keys that possesses different powers and abilities. Little do they know, there is an evil spirit that wants the keys for itself, and will stop at nothing to obtain them.
IDW published the series in 2008, and it’s move to the small screen has been a long time coming. FOX originally ordered a pilot, but passed on a series order, though the pilot was screened at the San Diego Comic Con in 2011. Universal Studios announced a film trilogy based on the series, but the project never came to light. HULU then ordered a pilot, but they, too, also passed on the series. The project then went to Netflix, who given the production a ten episode series order.
From the looks of the trailer, it appears the show runners will be basing the season on the first story-line of the comic book series, Welcome To Lovecraft, though other story-lines may also be featured.
Some of the keys featured include the Ghost Key, which, after opening the right door, separates a person from their physical body, allowing their spirit to roam the estate grounds. The Anywhere Key, allows a person to travel anywhere that their mind can visualize. The Echo Key allows entry into the Keyhouse well house, allowing the bearer of the key to bring a spirit back from the dead. The Mind Key allows a person to peer inside the mind of another person, in the series the person walks through a door into a representation of the subjects mind, in the comics, the key removes the persons head and you can peer inside (take your pick on which version you’d prefer). Also, as is evident from the trailer, the Shadow Key, which allows a person to control shadows, even shadows of other people is featured.
The cast includes Darby Stanchfield (Scandal) as Nina Locke, the mother of the Locke children. Playing the siblings are Connor Jessup (Falling Skies) as Tyler, Emilia Jones (Doctor Who: The Rings Of Akhetan) as Kinsey, and Jackson Robert Scott (IT and IT Chapter Two, Georgie) as Bode. Bill Heck (The Alienist) plays, in flashbacks, the late father, Rendell Locke. Thomas Mitchell Barnett also stars as Sam Lesser, one of the teens who murdered Rendell Locke, who’s recruited by the evil spirit to assist him.
Along with Joe Hill, showrunners include Carlton Cuse (Lost), Meredith Averill (The Haunting Of Hill House). Aron Eli Coleite (Star Trek: Discovery), and Rick Jacobs (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency). Joe Hill wrote the script for the first episode, Cuse, Coleite, and Averill had also written episodes for the series.
Netflix will have all ten episodes of the series available for streaming on February 7. Also, if you happen to inherit a creepy looking house, and find extra creepy looking keys that have magical abilities. Don’t. Just watch the series, instead.
As an added bonus, we give you the opening scene from the first episode. Must be the Burning Heart Key.
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