Amazon’s New Comic Adaptation Is a Provocative, Time-Freezing Crime Thriller

In the evolving landscape of streaming, it seems no concept is too daring. Sex Criminals, the award-winning Image Comics series envisioned by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, is officially moving forward with a live-action series at Prime Video. While the Amazon-owned platform is already home to a massive catalog of graphic novel adaptations, the explicit nature of this particular source material likely explains its long journey to the screen; a previous attempt to adapt the title over a decade ago ultimately failed to launch.

The story follows Suzie, a woman who discovers that time literally freezes whenever she reaches orgasm. Her world changes when she meets a man named Jon with the exact same physiological quirk. Together, they use their shared “temporal suspension” to rob banks. While Fraction and Zdarsky executed this provocative premise with depth and humor, the show’s heavy reliance on its sexual themes may have historically made networks hesitant—even during an era of prestige dramas characterized by mature content.

This new adaptation is spearheaded by co-creators Tze Chun, Emily V. Gordon, and Kumail Nanjiani. The series is a collaborative effort between Prime Video and Gordon and Nanjiani’s Winter Coat Films, alongside Fraction, Zdarsky, and LuckyChap. While Nanjiani’s specific role hasn’t been confirmed, he is set to star in the production, making him the leading candidate for the role of Jon.

“I have been a dedicated fan of Sex Criminals since the debut issue,” Tze Chun noted in an official statement. He described the project as a career-defining opportunity that he has pursued for over ten years, highlighting the creative synergy found with Gordon and Nanjiani.

Gordon and Nanjiani echoed this sentiment, stating that the project perfectly aligns with Winter Coat’s mission to explore “unconventional love stories.” They noted that as soon as LuckyChap brought the comic to their attention, they were determined to bring these unique characters to a television audience through Prime Video.

While further casting announcements and production timelines remain under wraps, the path is finally clear for Sex Criminals to make its debut on the small screen.

Source: Polygon