Genndy Tartakovsky, the visionary behind Primal and Samurai Jack, is finally bringing his long-awaited adult crime series to life. After a two-year delay, the project—now titled Heist Brothers—has been officially greenlit at Adult Swim, promising a gritty, stylish addition to the network's lineup.
The series, which Tartakovsky first teased in 2024, was initially put on hold as the animator focused on other commitments. But now, with momentum building, Heist Brothers is set to deliver the kind of visceral, visually arresting storytelling that has made Tartakovsky a legend in animation. The show will center on a pair of sibling criminals navigating a dangerous underworld, blending high-stakes heists with dark family drama.
Adult Swim has been a longtime home for Tartakovsky's boundary-pushing work, including the Emmy-winning Primal and the cult classic Samurai Jack. Heist Brothers continues that tradition, targeting an adult audience with its mature themes and stylized violence. The network has not yet announced a premiere date, but production is expected to ramp up soon.
This isn't Tartakovsky's only project in the pipeline. He's also developing a new Primal special and remains involved in various film and TV ventures. But Heist Brothers marks a distinct shift into pure crime territory, a genre he's long wanted to explore. In a statement, Tartakovsky described the series as "a love letter to classic heist films, but with the raw energy of animation."
Fans of crime thrillers can also check out Dark Winds Season 4, which hits Netflix in July 2026, or revisit Five Days, HBO's overlooked crime miniseries. For those who prefer their crime with a literary bent, the best ranked movie adaptations of books offer plenty of inspiration.
The delay of Heist Brothers was partly due to Tartakovsky's perfectionism and the complexity of the animation style. The series is expected to feature a mix of traditional hand-drawn and digital techniques, giving it a unique visual identity. Adult Swim has been tight-lipped about the cast, but rumors suggest several high-profile voice actors are in talks.
With Heist Brothers, Tartakovsky joins a growing trend of acclaimed animators venturing into adult crime dramas. The series is poised to be a standout in Adult Swim's 2027 slate, offering a fresh take on the heist genre that only the Primal creator could deliver.
