John Barrowman To Star In Heavy Metal TV Series

John Barrowman, star of Doctor Who, Torchwood and Arrow, is going to executive producer as well as star in a Heavy Metal event TV miniseries.

Barrowman is adapting a story from the newest edition of the magazine, “The 49th Key,” by Erika Lewis.

Heavy Metal‘s Jeff Krelitz and David Boxenbaum will also executive produce, with former Dark Horse Comics PR director Jeremy Atkins onboard as associate producer.

THR describes the story as follows:

The 49th Key is based on the 16th century legend of Enochian magic, which tells of a secret language of angels.

The first chapter in an expansive fantasy series tells of a rogue archeologist and a young autistic and mute boy on a treacherous journey through England to bring the boy home. The boy turns out to be the key to a gateway between our world and that of Enochia, a magical society that exists below the Earth’s surface, filled with fantasy creatures and highly advanced humans.

“The 49th Key” debuts in Heavy Metal Magazine #273, which is out Wednesday with art by J.K. Woodard.