FeaturedQueer ScreensTV Shows

Solving Mysteries and Ghostly Bonds: A Sneak Peek into Dead Boy Detectives

We’re diving straight into the spooky world of Dead Boy Detectives, set to hit Netflix worldwide on April 25th. Today, the streaming giant dropped the trailer for this thrilling series, and trust us, it’s a must-watch for all paranormal aficionados.

Dead Boy Detectives follows Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri), the dynamic duo behind the Dead Boy Detectives agency. Born decades apart and now ghosts, Edwin and Charles form an unbreakable bond as best friends who solve eerie mysteries from beyond the grave. Their escapades include facing off against evil witches, navigating through Hell, and even outsmarting Death herself (Kirby Howell-Baptiste)!

Adding to the intrigue are Crystal (Kassius Nelson), a clairvoyant, and her friend Niko (Yuyu Kitamura), who join forces with Edwin and Charles to crack some of the mortal realm’s most baffling paranormal cases.

Image Courtesy of Netflix

Now, you might be wondering, is Dead Boy Detectives queer? The honest answer is we’re not sure. 

In the original comics written by Neil Gaiman with artists Matt Wagner and Malcolm Jones III, the characters are quite young, so there are no explicit references to their sexuality. However, in Max’s Doom Patrol Season 3 Episode 3, where these characters made their TV debut, they’re slightly aged up and it is implied that Edwin (played by Ty Tennant) has an unrequited love for Charles (Sebastian Croft), but is unwilling to admit it.

In fact, in one scene during the episode, Larry Trainor, aka Negative Man (played by Matt Bomer), picks up on the fact that Edwin is attracted to Charles and even encourages him to talk to Charles about it. 

As the series transitions to Netflix, anticipation for what will happen with this exact plot is sky-high. While we can’t confirm the exact nature of Edwin and Charles’ relationship in this iteration, we’re hopeful to see a friends-to-lovers subplot. After all, the Sandman Universe, where Dead Boy Detectives will find its roots, embraces diversity and inclusivity, leaving room for LGBTQ+ narratives.

The series, initially ordered by Max in September 2021 and then moved to Netflix in 2023, boasts an impressive lineup of talent. Besides Rexstrew, Revri, Nelson, Kitamura, and Howell-Baptiste (reprising her role of the Sandman’s Death), the cast also includes Jenn Lyon, Briana Cuoco, Yuyu, Ruth Connell, Lukas Gage, and David Iacono. 

Dead Boy Detectives was developed for television by Steve Yockey, who wrote the first episode and serves as showrunner alongside Beth Schwartz as co-showrunner. Greg Berlanti, Yockey, Schwartz, Jeremy Carver, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, and Gaiman serve as executive producers of the series from Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

The show promises a thrilling blend of mystery, friendship, and ghostly adventures. So, mark your calendars for April 25, folks, cause Dead Boy Detectives is coming! In the meantime, check out the official trailer for a sneak peek into this intriguing world!

Stay tuned for more updates as we eagerly await the premiere. Until then, happy sleuthing!


Dead Boy Detectives will premiere on Netflix worldwide on April 25. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!

Featured image: Image Courtesy of Netflix.