Eric Kripke’s Early Work: A Brief Tarzan Series Before Supernatural and The Boys
Eric Kripke, renowned for creating successful television series, faced challenges early in his career. Prior to his fame with “Supernatural” and “The Boys,” Kripke worked on a lesser-known project, “Tarzan,” which aired on The WB in 2003.
About the Series “Tarzan”
“Tarzan” featured a contemporary twist on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic tale. The series relocated the jungle setting to New York City.
- First aired: 2003
- Network: The WB
- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 8
Key Cast Members
The series showcased a talented cast, featuring:
- Travis Fimmel as Tarzan
- Sarah Wayne Callies as Jane Porter
- Leighton Meester
- Mitch Pileggi
- Lucy Lawless
Plot Overview
The storyline follows Tarzan, who is trying to evade his power-hungry uncle. The uncle is determined to control the corporation that Tarzan is meant to inherit. During his journey, he partners with Jane Porter to solve various mysteries in New York City, including missing children and murders. Their partnership grows complex, with romantic feelings developing between them.
Learning from Experience
Despite the show’s potential, “Tarzan” only lasted eight episodes. Kripke has openly criticized the series, stating it was a difficult learning experience. He reflected on this in an interview with Gold Derby, emphasizing his desire to improve storytelling in future projects.
The Impact on Future Projects
Kripke viewed “Supernatural” as an opportunity to incorporate lessons learned from “Tarzan.” He recognized the need for a strong story engine to sustain a long-running series. As a result, “Supernatural” was significantly more successful, running for 15 seasons. Additionally, “The Boys” is set to premiere its fifth and final season on Amazon Prime Video in 2026.
