Hulu is moving forward with a television series adaptation of the 2020 mystery film The Kid Detective. The project aims to fill a specific “neo-noir” mystery void in the streaming landscape, drawing comparisons to the tonal blend of dark comedy and gritty investigation seen in series like Veronica Mars.
The adaptation is being developed with Alex Berger, known for his work on The Mentalist, set to serve as the lead writer and executive producer. Joining the production team is Evan Morgan, the writer and director of the original 2020 film, who will serve as an executive producer to help maintain the property’s distinct atmosphere.
The series logline closely mirrors the premise of the film, following a washed-up former child detective who, now in his 30s, continues to solve trivial mysteries while struggling with his lost potential. The central narrative arc involves the protagonist reopening an unsolved childhood murder case through the lens of a new missing persons investigation. While the original film was an R-rated comedy-drama that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Hulu series provides an opportunity to expand on the world of the “kid detective” beyond the confines of a single feature.
Despite his performance in the 2020 film being a cornerstone of the project’s cult success, actor Adam Brody is not currently attached to the series. His lack of official involvement comes amid a significant resurgence in his career following the 2024 success of the Netflix series Nobody Wants This. It remains unclear if the The Kid Detective series will eventually cast Brody to reprise the role of Abe Applebaum or if it will seek a new lead for a fresh interpretation of the character.
The production is a collaboration between several entities, including Rachel Kaplan’s Abescon Entertainment and original film producers Jonathan Bronfman and Will Woods. By bringing in Berger, who has extensive experience with procedural and prestige mysteries, the project appears to be positioning itself as a more serialized expansion of the original story rather than a direct sequel.
Whether the series will retain the film’s R-rated edge or pivot toward the standards of a typical prestige television mystery remains to be seen. However, the involvement of the original creator alongside veteran mystery writers suggests a focus on the specific “deadpan noir” style that defined the source material.
