‘Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir’ Is Getting Its First Live-Action TV Series

Few animated superhero franchises have traveled as far as ‘Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir’. What began as a Paris-set adventure about two teenagers with secret identities has grown into a global brand spanning TV seasons, movies, merchandise and live events. For years, one question has hung over it: what would a real-life Ladybug look like?

The idea isn’t new. Live-action plans have floated around the property for a long time, including a 2018 deal in which Skydance Media and ZAG secured live-action film and television rights, with an anticipated release in 2020. That never materialized, and fans have been waiting ever since.

Now a live-action ‘Miraculous’ series is officially on the way. The Paris-set blockbuster animated superhero series is entering live-action television for the first time, adapted by Emme Hoy, a writer and co-executive producer on season 2 of the thriller ‘Sweetpea’ for Sky and Starz. It’s being co-developed and co-produced by two Mediawan companies, See-Saw Films and Miraculous Corp.

See-Saw Films is the company behind ‘Slow Horses’ and ‘Heartstopper’, which gives the project a strong track record in character-driven storytelling. Miraculous Corp, for its part, is a joint venture between Mediawan and ZAG established in 2024. The executive producers include See-Saw’s Maria Nicholson, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Simon Gillis and Ben Irving, alongside Hoy, with Nicky Earnshaw co-producing.

Heath Kenny, Miraculous Corp’s chief content officer, praised See-Saw and Hoy for their ability to create ambitious, emotionally sophisticated stories with global appeal. That choice of partners suggests the studio wants a version that appeals to more than just young viewers. Whether that translates into a darker or more grown-up tone remains to be seen.

Hoy’s credits give some hints about the approach. In addition to ‘Sweetpea’, a darkly comic thriller starring Ella Purnell that returns to Sky in November and Starz in early 2027, she has written multiple episodes of the BBC’s upcoming espionage series ‘Honey’. Those projects lean toward sharp, character-focused storytelling.

That’s a notable fit for a franchise built on secret identities and unspoken feelings. The original story follows Marinette and Adrien, who transform into Ladybug and Cat Noir to protect Paris from the villain Hawk Moth and his akumas. At its core is a romance in which neither hero knows the other’s true identity.

The timing makes sense given the property’s growth. The franchise has drawn more than 37 billion views on YouTube, according to figures reported in 2024, and its animated film, ‘Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie’, topped the box office in France and Germany before landing on Netflix. Disney acquired later seasons of the series as well.

Earlier this year, Miraculous Corp also announced a live stage show scheduled to launch worldwide in 2027, featuring acrobatics, aerial choreography and puppetry. Live action would be another major step in turning a cartoon into a multi-platform empire. It also keeps the brand in front of fans who grew up watching the animated series.

Plenty of key details are still unknown. The announcement doesn’t mention who will play Marinette and Adrien, which streaming platform or network will carry the show, or when it might premiere. Fans will likely spend the coming months speculating about casting, especially given how beloved both characters are.

There are also creative questions to answer. Translating Ladybug’s transformations, the magical creatures that accompany the heroes and the sweeping Paris setting into live action will be a major test for the production. The success of other adaptations that moved from animation to live action may offer lessons, but each property has its own challenges.

For longtime viewers, the news feels like a milestone. The animated series has been running since 2015, and its devoted audience has been asking for a live-action version for years. With a respected producer, an experienced writer and a franchise at its commercial peak, this attempt has stronger footing than earlier ones.

Still, expectations will be high. Ladybug and Cat Noir are defined by their style, humor and heart, and capturing that in a real-world setting won’t be easy. Fans will be watching closely for the first casting news.

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