Variety reports that HBO Max is developing an Aqualad TV series based on the Young Adult graphic novel, You Brought Me the Ocean. The one-hour "dramedy" is based on Alex Sanchez and Jul Maroh's story about Jackson "Jake" Hyde, a gay teenager living in New Mexico.
His entire life, Jake has had a strange attraction to the water and yearns to escape his desert surroundings for the ocean. As he explores his abilities, including breathing under and controlling water, he also finds himself falling in love with his classmate, high school swim captain Kenny Liu.
This version of Aqualad first debuted in the Young Justice animated series and was created by Brandon Vietti, Greg Weisman and Phil Bourassa. The Walking Dead star Khary Payton voiced the hero, and he debuted in the comic books around the same time in Brightest Day #4. There, he was named Kaldur'ahm and revealed as the son of Black Manta before becoming the new Aquaman.
The Garth version of Aqualand recently appeared in Titans and was played by Drew Van Acker.
No writer or director is attached, but the trade confirms that Charlize Theron, A.J. Dix, Beth Kono, and Andrew Haas of Denver & Delilah Films will executive produce the series. Theron, best known for Mad Max: Fury Road and her Oscar-winning turn in Monster, being attached is definitely interesting.
Are you excited for this Aqualad series based on You Brought Me the Ocean?