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Something is Killing the Children's James Tynion IV reveals his fancast for a live-action Erica Slaughter: Maya Hawke
For Tynion, who created Something is Killing the Children's lead character Erica Slaughter, one facet of Erica in particular has him eyeing Stranger Things star Hawke
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Ever since the announcement of the Something is Killing the Children live-action movie, fans have been dream-casting Erica Slaughter, the comic's child-protecting, monster-slaying badass who makes a fashion statement out of teeth. And apparently, the series's creator is doing just as much fan-casting himself, as we learned in a recent comic con panel he was hosting. Get this - James Tynion IV thinks the perfect live-action Erica Slaughter is...
Stranger Things' Maya Hawke.
The panel we're talking about, specifically, was the Slaughterverse event at C2E2 2026, where Tynion was the guest of honor. The discussion touched on everything from the crossover Tynion is planning with DC Comics to the original draft of the now-iconic horror series, but maybe the thing fans were most excited to hear about were the Department of Truth author's thoughts on the live-action Erica.
"I do have someone in my mind," Tynion began after a fan asked who he would cast, "I don't want to jinx it, because I do think that she could be perfect - it's Maya Hawke. Every year she looks more like her mom."
In case you didn't know, Hawke's mother is Uma Thurman, star of Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, and (of course) Batman and Robin. More than the resemblance to one of the best action movie stars of all time, though, Tynion sees something in Hawke that matches Erica's energy.
"She has this perfect element," he said, "One of the core traits of Erica is children immediately trust her. [...] She's a calming presence to children, but adults find her very strange and off putting. I think that she would embody that really well."
"I don't have absolute control over that," Tynion ended by clarifying, "But that is my dream-casting."
Somebody get Maya's people on the line - she's got some monsters to slaughter.
Popverse's favorite convention, C2E2, is back and we've got all you need to know ahead of time:
About C2E2
Comics, cosplay, gaming, authors, and anime abound in the only pop culture convention in the heart of Downtown Chicago! We've gathered your favorite celebrities, unique exhibitors, incredible comic creators, and larger-than-life literary authors into one place to celebrate the fandoms you love. From the halls of Artist Alley to the depths of the Show Floor, our goal is to provide a space of creativity and fun, but most importantly, one that cultivates a sense of belonging, safety, and inclusiveness.
Dates
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Location
Chicago's McCormick Place
United States
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