Tom DeLonge's UFO evangelism to continue with new sci-fi series for TBS
We raised our eyebrows when Tom DeLonge left Blink 182 to investigate UFOs and produce alien-themed content with his To The Stars Academy, but, time and again, pop-punk’s dick joke laureate has proven himself both trustworthy and, in light of the numerous books he’s written over the last few years, shockingly prolific. Now, DeLonge will see one of his creations brought to life onscreen, as TBS is currently developing an adaptation of his graphic novel Strange Times.
Released in 2016, Strange Times follows “five dirty teenage skateboarders who solve paranormal mysteries while being chased by Deep State government agents.” So, yes, since you’re asking: TBS would like its own Stranger Things.
“My love for all things paranormal and skateboarding are sometimes only superseded by my love for offensive humor,” DeLonge says in a press release. “This series combines them all into one.”
He elaborated in an interview with Variety. “This is a dream I’ve had for over 10 years and it’s finally a reality. All the stories and themes I work on are meant to be shared through multiple mediums and on different platforms — film, TV, books, music and so on. Strange Times began as an interactive website where people shared weird, paranormal stories — a lot of them with credible evidence. That helped inspire the story behind the graphic novel and also a prose novel that I published.”
The series is reportedly being written and executive produced by novelist and stand-up comedian Aaron Karo. Joining as EPs will be DeLonge, The Cartel’s Stan Spry and Jeff Holland ,and Strike Entertainment’s Russell Binder. It was previously announced last year as a film to be directed by DeLonge with To The Stars as a producer.
Later in the interview, DeLonge reiterates his hope for To The Stars to evolve into a “science fiction Disney,” one “where our entertainment franchises are worlds that are inspired and informed by our own next-generation science division.”
He also says the ideal theme song for the show would be Descendents’ “Suburban Home,” but we’re guessing there’s no way TBS isn’t using “Aliens Exist.”