Brad Bird Considers TV Series on 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

At the “Brad Bird: My Cinematic Journey” panel during San Diego Comic-Con 2026, director Brad Bird revealed that he is still exploring a television adaptation of James Dalessandro’s 2004 novel about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. He noted that the story could span multiple seasons or remain a limited series, depending on how the material is shaped.

Deadline Hollywood

Dalessandro’s novel dramatizes the catastrophic earthquake and subsequent fire that killed more than 3,000 people and destroyed over 80 percent of San Francisco. The disaster has long attracted filmmakers, but Bird has been unable to move the adaptation forward despite pursuing it since 2007.

Deadline Hollywood

Bird explained that deeper research continually uncovers new, “insane” story elements, compelling him to expand the narrative beyond a single film. He emphasized the need to include the breadth of the historical event while preserving cinematic scope. The director also mentioned that composer Michael Giacchino, known for scoring *The Incredibles* and *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*, surprised him by appearing mid-panel, underscoring the collaborative enthusiasm surrounding the potential series.

Deadline Hollywood

Bird’s remarks at the panel constitute his official stance on the project. He acknowledged widespread misinformation online, stating that “there’s a lotta BS on the Internet about the reason it didn’t happen.” He further asserted that the more he researches the era, “the more amazing it is,” reinforcing his commitment to a thorough, large-scale adaptation.

Deadline Hollywood

• “There’s a lotta BS on the Internet about the reason it didn’t happen,” — Brad Bird, ray gunn director

Deadline Hollywood

• “The problem with it is, the more you research that time, the more amazing it is,” — Brad Bird, ray gunn director

Deadline Hollywood