Netflix picks up ‘Locke and Key’ series: Everything you need to know

It was not looking too good for the small-screen adaptation of the comic book series Locke and Key for a minute – for eight long years the horror-mystery has been picked up and dropped by various studios like an aggressive game of pass the parcel. However, just two months after Hulu opted not to go forward with the pilot, Netflix a.k.a. The Billy Big Bollocks of the streaming world has stepped in and handed out a straight-to-series order for the property, much to the delight of the many Locke and Key superfans who have been eagerly awaiting a TV show based on IDW’s beloved comic for longer than they should have. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix has yet to comment as the deals are not yet finalized. However, “Sources say the streamer is in talks to license the rights for the IP and redevelop the drama with IDW Entertainment.” And as we know, Netflix does not muck about, meaning after many, many years, it’s likely only a matter of time before Locke and Key finally hits our screens. But to say it’s been a rocky road would be an understatement . . .

A turbulent past

The live-action supernatural thriller is an adaptation of the comics developed by Joe Hill – Stephen King’s son and the author of novels such as NOS4A2 and The Fireman – and drawn by artist Gabriel Rodríguez. For a long time, the adaptation has been stuck in development hell, having been initially put in into production eight years ago. During the 2010-2011 development season, the show reached the pilot stage at Fox with Josh Friedman (War of the Worlds) writing, Mark Romanek (Never Let Me Go) directing, and Alex Kurtzman (Sleepy Hollow), Roberto Orci (Fringe), and Steven Spielberg (Ready Player One) producing alongside DreamWorks TV. The show starred Mark Pellegrino (Mulholland Drive), Miranda Otto (The Thin Red Line), Jesse McCartney (Keith), Sarah Bolger (The Moth Diaries), and Nick Stahl (Sin City), and despite an overwhelming response to its screening at Comic-Con, the project did not move forward. The Fox pilot occurred during the 2010-2011 development season with the listed creative team and cast. A subsequent Hulu pilot in 2018 also did not move forward. Netflix ultimately produced the series that aired from 2020 to 2022.

The Netflix Series Run

Season 1 premiered on February 7, 2020. The show ran for three seasons in total and concluded in August 2022. Seasons 1 and 2 each contained 10 episodes while Season 3 delivered 8. The series follows the Locke siblings as they move into Keyhouse, an ancestral mansion filled with magical keys that unlock doors to other realms and grant strange powers. Netflix handled production after acquiring the rights from IDW Entertainment, and the show stayed on the platform throughout its run.

Reception and Viewership

Rotten Tomatoes scores shifted across the seasons, with Season 1 landing near 65 percent, Season 2 rising to 85 percent, and Season 3 settling around 55 percent. Critics noted the show’s mix of fantasy, horror, and teen drama, while viewers appreciated the visual style of the keys and the moody atmosphere of Keyhouse. The series carried a TV-14 rating and remained available on Netflix with its fantasy and horror elements intact.

Comic-to-Screen Differences

The series adapts the core premise and early volumes of the comics but streamlines several plotlines and changes the order of certain events. Showrunners Carlton Cuse and Meredith Averill aimed for a self-contained three-season story arc from the outset rather than an open-ended run. Some characters received expanded roles or new backstories to suit the television format, and the final season wrapped threads that the original comic volumes left open.

Legacy of the Adaptation

The show ended as planned with Season 3 in 2022, delivering the conclusion its creators had mapped out years earlier. No further seasons were produced. For fans who waited through nearly a decade of stalled projects, the completed run offered closure on the story of the Locke family and the enchanted keys. The series stands as the first full adaptation of the IDW comic to reach screens, fulfilling the long development journey that began with the Fox pilot in 2010.