Horror movie creators to reboot 'Gargoyles' on Disney+: What to know about '90s series revival

New York City's secretive nocturnal protectors could soon be coming back to life in a reboot of the classic '90s animated series "Gargoyles" on Disney+.

A spokesperson at the streaming service confirmed Tuesday to USA TODAY that a live-action version of the 1990s cartoon is in early development. Gary Dauberman and James Wan, the creative duo behind the "Annabelle" horror series, have been tapped as executive producers, according to Dinsey+.

Wan, founder of production company Atomic Monster, announced the news himself this week on Instagram.

"The Gargoyles are out of the bag," Wan said on Instagram. "Excited to be working with Gary again, on this! He’s a true fan."

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What is 'Gargoyles'?

"Gargoyles," noted for its dark thematic material compared to other Disney series, became a cult classic when it aired for three seasons between 1994 and 1997.

The series followed a clan of gargoyles transported to modern-day Manhattan from medieval Scotland who are cursed to live as stone during the day. But at night, the creatures awaken from their slumber to protect the city from both run-of-the-mill criminals and fantastical creatures alike.

The live-action series will follow Goliath, the group's de facto leader in the animated series, as he explores his mysterious past and works with a New York police detective to defend the Big Apple from supernatural threats, according to Disney+.

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What should I know about Wan and Dauberman?

Wan and Dauberman have been involved in numerous projects together throughout the years, primarily the films within "The Conjuring" universe.

Wan, an Australian filmmaker, created the pivotal "Conjuring" horror series, which debuted in 2013 with its first film that he directed and co-wrote. The horror auteur is also known for co-creating "Saw" and "Insidious", directing many of the films in each hit series as they combined to gross billions of dollars.

Dauberman is best known for writing horror features like the “Annabelle” and "The Nun" films within "The Conjuring" universe, making his directorial debut in 2019 with "Annabelle Comes Home." All those films were produced by Atomic Monster, the company Wan founded in 2014 that was also behind the horror hit "M3GAN."

Dauberman also co-wrote “It” (2017) and “It: Chapter Two” (2019), the recent two-part adaption of Stephen King's classic novel of the same name.

"Gargoyles" will be the newest opportunity for Dauberman and Wan to work together after the pair collaborated on the short-lived “Swamp Thing” streaming series for the now-defunct platform DC Universe. 

Wan and Atomic Monster will executive produce the series along with Dauberman, who will also write it for the studio Disney Branded Television, according to Disney+.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]