Author Neil Gaiman’s TV Universe got a little bigger – and ghostlier – with the debut of Dead Boy Detectives on Netflix this week. The series follows two dead best friends, Edwin and Charles, as they team up to solve paranormal cases. 

The supernatural mystery series brings to life characters who first appeared in Gaiman’s Sandman comics. We sat down with the Dead Boy Detectives showrunners Steve Yockey and Beth Schwartz to discuss giving the characters new (undead) life in their own TV series.

Yockey told us that in their earlier conversations with Gaiman, the author made it clear that one of his favorite things about the Dead Boy Detectives were their origin stories. So, that became one of the core aspects the showrunners aimed to carry over into the Netflix series.

“It was really important to maintain the fidelity of their backstories. I knew I wanted people who have read the comics – Sandman and Dead Boy Detectives – to recognize the boys,” Yockey said.

“For me it was about keeping the heart of the friendship that Neil created, bringing it to screen and honoring that,” Schwartz added.

Jayden Revri as Charles Rowland and George Rexstrew as Edwin Payne in episode 1 of DEAD BOY DETECTIVES

Beyond the Dead Boys themselves, the series also features a memorable extended cast of magical characters. When asked who they’d choose to lead their own spinoff series, Schwartz said, “Honestly so many! I would love to have a Cat King spinoff and just see what he does and how he rules Port Townsend.”

“Netflix is gonna do a little Sprites spinoff. Netflix loves the Dandelion Sprites,” Yockey joked. He added, “I would spinoff Esther, just to watch her be mean to people all day.”

Check out our full interview with Schwartz and Yockey below to hear more about why the team loves writing for Esther (and praise for actor Jenn Lyon), the showrunner’s favorite cases and magical moments from season 1, and more.

About Dead Boy Detectives

Do you have a pesky ghost haunting you? Has a demon stolen your core memories? You may want to ring the Dead Boy Detectives.

Meet Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri), “the brains” and “the brawn” behind the Dead Boy Detectives agency. Teenagers born decades apart who find each other only in death, Edwin and Charles are best friends and ghosts… who solve mysteries. They will do anything to stick together – including escaping evil witches, Hell and Death herself. With the help of a clairvoyant named Crystal (Kassius Nelson) and her friend Niko (Yuyu Kitamura), they are able to crack some of the mortal realm’s most mystifying paranormal cases.

As part of The Sandman Universe for Netflix and based on the beloved comic series from Neil Gaiman, DEAD BOY DETECTIVES was developed for television by Steve Yockey, who serves as co-showrunner alongside Beth Schwartz and is brought to you by Greg Berlanti. Jeremy Carver and Sarah Schechter also serve as executive producers. The series also stars Jenn Lyon, Briana Cuoco, Lukas Gage, David Iacono and Ruth Connell.

You can stream Dead Boy Detectives now on Netflix.

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Meet The Dead Boy Detectives: George Rexstrew & Jayden Revri [Interview]