Before Eric Kripke created the 15-season phenomenon Supernatural and the hit series The Boys, he had his first major network show. It was a modern Tarzan series for The WB that lasted only eight episodes in 2003. While the show itself is largely forgotten, its story and its cast of future stars make it a fascinating footnote in television history and a crucial stepping stone for Kripke’s career.
The series, simply titled Tarzan, was a complete reinvention of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic character. It traded the African jungle for the urban jungle of New York City. The plot centered on John Clayton Jr., the heir to the powerful Greystoke Industries, who was raised by apes after his parents died in a plane crash. Captured and brought to New York by his billionaire uncle, Richard Clayton, Tarzan found himself out of place in the civilized world but proved uniquely skilled at navigating the city’s dangers.
The Premise: Tarzan Meets Crime Procedural in New York City
The show’s pilot, which aired on October 5, 2003, introduced a unique blend of superhero mystery and police drama. Resisting his uncle’s control, the feral Tarzan escaped into the city, where he crossed paths with NYPD Detective Jane Porter. Jane’s perfectly ordered life was turned upside down by her connection to Tarzan, who operated on a primal sense of justice.
The series framed Tarzan as a modern, urban vigilante. He used his incredible physical abilities, sharpened by years in the wild, to help people in trouble, often clashing with both criminals and the police. His presence forced Jane to question the very nature of civilization as she worked her cases. The dynamic aimed to mix an unconventional crime drama with a fiery love story between the two leads.
“I was hungry to have anything in production, so I wrote a 50-page story that ended. Then it got made, and I had something in production, and it was all my dreams come true,” Kripke said in a past interview, reflecting on writing the pilot.
An All-Star Cast Before They Were Famous
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Tarzan series is its cast, which was filled with actors on the cusp of major fame. Australian model Travis Fimmel starred in his first leading role as Tarzan, years before he would gain international recognition as Ragnar Lothbrok on the History Channel’s Vikings.
Detective Jane Porter was played by Sarah Wayne Callies. This role came just before her breakout part as Dr. Sara Tancredi on the hit series Prison Break. The cast also included a young Leighton Meester as Jane’s sister, Nicki Porter, two years before she became a global star as Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl.
The supporting roles featured established genre favorites. Mitch Pileggi, known for his role as Assistant Director Walter Skinner on The X-Files, played Tarzan’s ruthless uncle, Richard Clayton. Lucy Lawless, famous for portraying the warrior princess Xena, took on the part of Tarzan’s aunt, Kathleen Clayton. The ensemble was rounded out by Johnny Messner as Detective Michael Foster and Miguel Nunez Jr. as Jane’s police partner, Sam Sullivan.
Why The WB’s Tarzan Was Canceled After 8 Episodes
Despite its interesting premise and strong cast, Tarzan failed to connect with audiences. The WB canceled the show after only eight episodes. Critics and viewers at the time noted the show struggled to find a consistent tone and a sustainable weekly format.
Years later, Eric Kripke himself was openly critical of the show. He did not hold back when discussing its shortcomings and his own role in its failure.
Kripke has called the series “a piece of crap” and “a flaming s**tshow,” adding that “the vast majority of it was my fault”.
He explained that the core problem was a fundamental flaw in the show’s concept for weekly television. “You really need to figure out what your engine is. How are you going to generate story every week, 22 times a year? Tarzan had none of that,” Kripke stated. The experience, while difficult, became a critical learning period for the young showrunner.
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How a Failed Tarzan Show Led to Supernatural
The true importance of the Tarzan series lies not in its brief run but in what it made possible for Eric Kripke. He described the process of trying to keep the show alive as akin to “standing proudly on the deck of the Titanic with my violin and just playing away”. His dedication and hard work on a failing project did not go unnoticed.
Warner Bros., the studio behind Tarzan, was impressed by Kripke’s professionalism and effort under extreme pressure. When the show was canceled, they were willing to listen to his next pitch. That next idea was Supernatural, a show about two brothers hunting demons and ghosts across America.
Kripke has said he saw Supernatural as a direct chance to correct all the mistakes he felt he made on Tarzan. He focused on creating a clear “engine” for stories, building a rich mythology, and centering the series on the relatable family drama between the Winchester brothers. The lessons learned from the Tarzan experience were instrumental in shaping one of television’s longest-running fantasy series, which ultimately lasted for 15 seasons.
The 2003 Tarzan series is not available on any major streaming service today, making it a truly lost piece of television history. However, its legacy lives on through the iconic shows and superstar careers it helped launch, proving that even a short-lived failure can be a foundational step toward great success.
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