Netflix has built a strong reputation for adapting comic books into successful TV shows, with critically acclaimed series like The Umbrella Academy and The Sandman. They were also pioneers in streaming television. Now, rumors suggest they might be adding another superhero show to their lineup, this time based on one of the very first comic book heroes.
A recent report from ComicBookMovie.com suggests Netflix might be planning a series based on . However, Netflix hasn’t confirmed this, and it’s unclear if the character would return as an animated or live-action figure.
Created by Lee Falk, who wrote and drew the comic strip, The Phantom first appeared in 1936 – two years before Superman. This masked crime fighter, known for his purple costume and use of guns, is a family legacy – the title of ‘The Phantom’ is passed down through generations of fathers and sons (and once, a daughter). Because of this, people in the jungles of Bangalla who have seen him fight for justice believe he’s either immortal or a ghost.
Beyond his iconic costume and weaponry, The Phantom truly defined the modern hero. However, the lasting impact of Lee Falk’s creation – which he continued to write until his death in 1999 – hasn’t received much attention lately. That’s why the announcement of a potential Netflix series is somewhat unexpected, especially considering how previous adaptations of ‘The Ghost Who Walks’ have performed.
The Phantom Has Been Adapted Before
The first time The Phantom appeared on screen was in 1943, as a live-action serial with Tom Tyler playing the hero. After a long hiatus of 43 years, he returned in the animated series Defenders of the Earth, alongside Flash Gordon and Mandrake the Magician. In the following decade, The Phantom got his own animated show, a futuristic series called Phantom 2040.
The most famous movie version of The Phantom features Kit Walker, the 21st Phantom, who tries to stop a greedy businessman from obtaining three ancient, magical skulls in the late 1930s. While the film – which also stars Christie Swanson and a young Catherine Zeta-Jones – wasn’t initially successful with critics or audiences, it’s now considered a standout and one of the best examples of the superhero period films made in Hollywood during that time.
In 2009, SyFy aired a live-action series starring Ryan Carne as Kit Walker, the 22nd Phantom, set in modern times. A new installment could help revive the franchise. Alternatively, Netflix might consider a return to the classic 1930s pulp style that originally made it popular.
And who knows what the future holds? If Netflix’s Phantom series does well, we might see The Shadow make a return, too.
You can rent or buy the 1996 movie The Phantom on Amazon Prime Video and other digital stores.
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2025-10-23 16:38