There is something wonderfully escapist about a show revolving around the paranormal. There is also a high demand for high-quality detective stories. That is why some of the shows that have had the most traction are the ones that can twist these two genres together.
There have been a number ofparanormal investigatorshows on both regular television and streaming for years. Paranormal shows in general have a long history of varying from being awful (Van Helsing) to being great (Crazyhead).Netflixis banking on the fact thatLockwood & Co.will be one of the greats.
The series is written by Jonathan Stroud, the author of the original books, and directed by Joe Cornish, Catherine Morshead, and William McGregor.
Lockwood & Co: The Plot
Netflix has released a plot synopsis of the upcoming series.
In London, where the most gifted teenage ghost-hunters venture nightly into perilous combat with deadly spirits, amidst the many corporate, adult-run agencies, one stands alone: independent of any commercial imperative or adult supervision – a tiny startup, run by two teenage boys and a newly arrived, supremely psychically gifted girl, a renegade trio destined to unravel a mystery that will change the course of history: Lockwood & Co.
The series is based on the popular British young adult book seriesof the same name. The lore of the books involves the fact that for decades, the country has been weathering an epidemic of ghosts. The character of Lucy Carlyle joins the Lockwood & Co. agency in an effort to start a ghost-hunting career.
Lockwood and Co. boasts a strong built-in following from its source material. These young adult novels have enthralled a generation looking for action, adventure, and magic in the post-Harry Potterworld. While there are a number of reasons these books are being translated into television, the main reason is their overwhelming popularity.
Related:Netflix Reveals Teaser for Paranormal Anime Movie Drifting Home
One sneak at a possible character that does not yet have a name can be found in the character poster. We see that Lucy Carlyle is holding a green jar with what appears to be a ghost head inside. This is a reference to a character from the book series called only The Skull in the Jar. It is said to be the company mascot but seems to be a real ghost. This only becomes clear because Lucy is able to hear it as it begins talking to her.
The question that continues to arise is whether this series will have the same feel asWednesday, another Netflix series that has put up explosive numbers.Lockwood and Co.can expect good numbers as its paranormal/teen/mystery angle follows some of the same lines, but it will not see as much initial name recognition asWednesday.
TheLockwood and Co.book series covered a variety of paranormal cases, but there is no word whether the Netflix series will follow the plot of one or all of the books.
Lockwood & Co: The Cast
The series is anchored by three characters. The main character, a psychic named Lucy Carlyle will be played by Ruby Stokes. The 22-year-old is best known for her role as Francesca Bridgerton in the Netflix seriesBridgerton. Cameron Chapman will play the titular head of Lockwood & Co. as Anthony Lockwood. This will be the first film or television role for the 19-year-old British actor. The third and final member of the main trio is George Karim, played in this series by Ali Hadji-Heshmati. The young actor has three television series under his belt including a one-shot on the Jack Whitehall showBad Educationin 2022. His character may be a replacement for the character of George Cubbins from theLockwood & Co.book series.
Related:Attack the Block 2 Will Officially Reunite John Boyega and Director Joe Cornish
Netflix has not released the identity of just who, or what, Lockwood & Co. will be going up against. However, actor Luke Treadaway will play the character of The Golden Blade. Treadaway has many acting credits includingA Christmas Gift from BobandTraitors. Other notable actors include Morven Christie (The Bay), Ivanno Jeremiah (Humans), and Rhianna Dorris (The Kid Who Would Be King).
The young cast, aside from Stokes, may benefit from a lack of name recognition. These actors currently have the eyes of Netflix which, should the series do well, could mean work on future Netflix projects. Streaming services have become the newest Hollywood studios and as they uplift new talent they are also scouting for those who may be able to hold their own in other series. For Stokes, this could be an opportunity to prove herself as a stand-alone actress outside herBridgertoncharacter.
Release Date
Lockwood & Co.will premiere on January 27th, 2023. The season will last eight episodes. There is no word whether this season will complete the story arc or if there will be a second season.
Speculation about whether the series would arrive before Halloween in an effort to ride the annual October paranormal wave was dashed early on. Netflix may have seen rival Disney+ releasing their ownscare-focused seriesand felt that keepingLockwood and Co.on the back burner until the new year, when it could stand out, would be the best idea.
