Prime Video has cast Imogen Poots and John Reynolds as leads in Sex Criminals, a new series adaptation of Image Comics' acclaimed graphic novel. The eight-episode limited series comes from executive producers Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani, with Tze Chun directing and showrunning. LuckyChap Entertainment and Amazon MGM Studios produce.
The original Sex Criminals comic, written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky, built a devoted cult following since its 2013 debut. The series blends crime caper and romance elements with explicit content and distinctive visual storytelling. Its pulp narrative centers on two protagonists who discover they can stop time during sexual climax, then attempt to prevent a bank robbery.
Poots brings indie credibility from her work in films like The Chronology of Water and appearances in prestige television. Reynolds, a character actor with roles in Seekers of Infinite Love and other projects, rounds out the lead pairing. The casting signals Prime Video's willingness to pursue adult-oriented genre adaptations that might appeal to a broader streaming audience beyond traditional superhero IP.
Nanjiani, known for both his comedy work and serious roles in films like Eternals, lends prestige to the project. Gordon collaborated with Nanjiani on the Pakistan-set romantic comedy Sour Grapes before their Emmy-winning documentary work. Chun brings direction and showrunning experience to navigate the source material's provocative tone without alienating mainstream streamers.
The adaptation arrives as comic-to-screen projects proliferate across platforms. Sex Criminals represents a rarer case: a deliberately adult, sexually frank property with literary merit and passionate fan support. How Prime Video handles the material's explicit content while maintaining narrative coherence remains the central question. The graphic novel's unconventional structure and metafictional elements pose particular challenges for screen translation.
THE TAKEAWAY: Prime Video bets on adult comic adaptation with top-tier creative talent and proven character actors.