Original Article: Multiversity Comics
By Christopher Chiu-Tabet
Gilbert Shelton’s underground comix series “The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers” is becoming an animated series early next year, starring the voices of actors, writers and executive producers Adam DeVine and Blake Anderson (Workaholics, Game Over, Man!). Created by Shelton in 1968, the Furry Freak Brothers are three stoner buddies from San Francisco, Phineas, Fat Freddy (and his cat), and Freewheelin’ Franklin, whose constant need to get high leads to all kinds of misadventures, both at home and abroad.
Other staff on the show, which is being produced by WTG Enterprises, will include showrunners Alan Cohen and Alan Freedland (King of the Hill, America Dad), writers and producers John Althschuler and Dave Krinsky (Silicon Valley), and producers Mark Canton (Power, 300) and Courtney Solomon (Dungeons & Dragons). Cohen and Freedland said, “There is so much topical, pop-culturally relevant, irreverent and hilarious source material to pull from, we’re just beyond thrilled to be working on such a fun and layered property. Now is the time to be creating smart adult animated shows that touch on topics that are timeless and timely.”
Shelton will also serve as executive producer on the series, while Starburns Industries (Rick and Morty) and Pure Imagination Studios (The Simpsons‘ “Brick Like Me”) will handle the animation.
It’s unknown where the series will be released; expect more details to be unveiled during next week’s San Diego Comic-Con, when the show’s creators will host a panel on Friday, July 19 at 7:00pm in room 6 BCF of the Convention Center. In the meantime, here’s the press release, including comments from DeVine and Anderson:
Executive Producers of Workaholics, King of the Hill, America Dad and Silicon Valley Join Courtney Solomon and Mark Canton in Producing an Animated Series Based on the Iconic Comic Book Series The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers
Talent Panel at San Diego Comic Con to reveal first details about the upcoming series
July 12, 2019 (Los Angeles, CA) — It was announced today that Mark Canton (Power, 300) and Courtney Solomon (AFTER, American Haunting, Dungeons & Dragons), along with the Executive Producers of King of the Hill and American Dad, the co-creators of Silicon Valley, and the talent and co-creators of Workaholics, will bring the infamously famous comic book, The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, to the small screen with an adult animated series. WTG Enterprises, LLC has greenlit eight 22-minute episodes which will debut in early 2020. The series will revolve around three rowdy characters looking to shake up history and push the envelope while keeping audiences entertained and wanting more.
The animated series will draw from the comic storylines, with the original creator, Gilbert Shelton, joining as an Executive Producer. Alan Cohen and Alan Freedland (King of the Hill, America Dad) will serve as showrunners, John Althschuler and Dave Krinsky (Silicon Valley) will write and produce, Adam Devine and Blake Anderson (Workaholics) will voice characters, Executive Produce and will also be involved in the creative development process, and Daniel and Jeremy Lehrer (Highly Gifted) will serve as writers and producers. Executive Producers include Courtney Solomon (CEO of WTG) and Mark Canton (former Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Columbia Tri-Star Motion Picture Companies and President of Worldwide Production for Warner Bros. Pictures), and Jeffrey S. Edell (president of WTG and former Chairman of MySpace parent company Intermix Media, CEO of Soundelux Entertainment, The Kids Are Alright, Killer Elite, The Grey, Just Friends) will also serve as Co-Executive Producer. The deal was negotiated on behalf of Gilbert Shelton by Manfred Mroczkowski, Executive Director of InterLicense, Ltd., who will also be joining as an Executive Producer.
Starburns Industries (Rick and Morty, Animals) and Pure Imagination Studios (The Simpsons, Lego Batman) will handle animation on the series.
As part of the unveiling of the upcoming series, the showrunners, talent and writers will be at San Diego Comic Con to reveal details about the show at a panel on Friday, July 19 at 7:00pm in room 6 BCF of the Convention Center. The discussion will cover the behind the scenes process around adapting this iconic 50-year-old comic book into a unique series.
“There is so much topical, pop-culturally relevant, irreverent and hilarious source material to pull from, we’re just beyond thrilled to be working on such a fun and layered property,” said Alan Freedland and Alan Cohen. ”Now is the time to be creating smart adult animated shows that touch on topics that are timeless and timely.”
“We connected so much to these characters,” said Adam Devine and Blake Anderson. “They’re just trying to enjoy life while understanding the world around them, and the adventures they go through along the way had us fully giggling while simultaneously making us think. When the opportunity arose to get involved not just as talent but also on a creative level, we jumped at the chance and also WEED, man!”
Created by Gilbert Shelton, The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers comic first appeared in 1968 as an underground press comic strip and centered around a threesome of “freaks” and a mischievous cat from San Francisco who are consistently looking for a state of bliss, relieved only by bursts of paranoia or stimulant induced frenzies. The Freak Brothers quickly became beloved, being translated into fourteen languages with over 40 million comics sold worldwide. The adventures this group of misfits take are both wildly boundary-pushing and remarkably human, with common themes including cannabis, law-breaking and politics.
About WTG:
WTG Enterprises LLC is an Entertainment, IP, branding and licensing company focused on developing, producing and distributing acquired IP across multiple mediums and platforms with the goal of promoting its brands and curating audiences. Last year the company made its first buyout of the fifty-year-old property, The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. Production on an adult animated series has begun, as well as the development of multiple licenses for the brand. WTG Enterprises, LLC is led by studio executives and Hollywood producers Courtney Solomon, CEO (AFTER, Dungeons & Dragons, An American Haunting, CAKE), Mark Canton (former Chairman of Sony Picture Entertainment’s Columbia Tri-Star Motion Picture Companies and President of Worldwide Production for Warner Bros. Pictures, Power, 300, Immortals) and Jeffrey S. Edell, president (former Chairman of MySpace parent company Intermix Media, CEO of Soundelux Entertainment, The Kids Are Alright, Killer Elite, The Grey).
