'The Hardy Boys' gets series adaptation on Hulu

Adventure awaits! The Hardy Boys, the classic teen books featuring two brothers solving mysteries, is getting a modern-day revival with a fresh storyline and action-packed twists via a new Hulu series.

The adaptation of the mystery series focuses on brothers Frank and Joe Hardy, played by Rohan Campbell and Alexander Elliot, respectively.

In the Hulu reboot, Frank (16) and Joe (12) move from the big city to their parents' sleepy hometown of Bridgeport for the summer. While staying with their Aunt Trudy (Bea Santos), their summer quickly comes to a halt when they discover their dad, detective Fenton Hardy (Big Little Lies' James Tupper) has taken on a secret investigation.

The amateur sleuths “set out to uncover the truth behind the recent tragedy that has changed their lives, and in doing so, uncover something much more sinister.”

Hulu's Hardy Boys take showcases action-packed twists and turns and some new faces. In a page borrowed from Riverdale, everyone in town is a suspect.

Check out the trailer below.

 

The Hardy Boys mystery series for children and teens have been around since 1927, with fictional characters Frank and Joe Hardy originating as book characters created by Edward Stratemeyer, who also created the popular Nancy Drew and The Bobbsey Twins series.

Eventually, a team of ghostwriters took over the Hardy Boys books, all writing under the pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon. While there have been several different TV adaptations based on the books, Hulu's darker take may just hook in younger audiences today.

Tupper, who plays the teen detective’s dad, read the book series as a kid and described the show as "something both teens and adults will enjoy."

In an interview with People, Ellliot said the new series mixes a bunch of different genres. "But the main aspect of the show is a classic whodunit, so just when you think you’ve got it figured out, there’s a twist. There’s also a lot of comedy and action, but at times it can get dark and dramatic. So it’s pretty much a blend of everything you would want in one show.”

“While we’re excited to bring a fresh new take on The Hardy Boys, we also wanted to evoke a sense of nostalgia. The series remains true to the quintessential Hardy Boys themes of brotherly love, friendship, and of course, mystery-solving,” said executive producer Joan Lambur.

The Hardy Boys 13-episode first season premieres on Hulu on Dec. 4.