Dead Boy Detectives, based on the DC Comics characters created by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner and existing in the same universe as Doom Patrol, has received a series order at HBO Max.

The eight-part series follows two boys who decide not to enter the afterlife, and to instead stay on earth to investigate crimes involving the supernatural. The ghost story series explores death, loss, and grief through the eyes of Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland (George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri, respectively), two dead British teenagers, and their very alive friend Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson, Last Night in Soho).

The series also stars Briana Cuoco as Jenny the Butcher, Supernatural’s Ruth Connell as the Night Nurse (reprising her role from the “Dead Patrol” episode of HBO Max’s Doom Patrol) and Alexander Calvert as Thomas the Cat King, Yuyu Kitamura as Niko, and Jenn Lyon as Esther.

The Flight Attendant creator Steve Yockey wrote the pilot episode and serves as showrunner. He also executive produces alongside Doom Patrol‘s Jeremy Carver, Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter. Lee Toland Krieger (The Age of Adaline, Shadow and Bone, the upcoming Green Lantern series) directed the pilot.