Career
Charley and Vlas Parlapanides began their professional careers as screenwriters before transitioning into producing and directing. In 2000 they developed their first independent feature film, Everything for a Reason which premiered at the AFI International Film Festival. [5] Vlas Parlapanides served as writer and director, while Charley Parlapanides produced the project. The brothers also appeared in minor acting roles. [6]
Their Greek background has influenced a number of their creative works, particularly those centered on mythology. [7] In 2008 they were announced as the screenwriters for the film War of Gods to be directed by Tarsem Singh. Early reports indicated that the visual style of the film would resemble that of 300 . [6] The brothers gained recognition with the 2011 action-fantasy film Immortals , which was directed by Tarsem Singh and starred Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, and Freida Pinto. The screenplay was produced by Relativity Media and drew inspiration from Greek mythology, particularly the story of Theseus. [8]
In 2008, Charley and Vlas Parlapanides were hired by Vertigo Entertainment to write the first draft of an American adaptation of Death Note, a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata that has sold over 30 million copies worldwide. [9] The screenplay was later revised by Jeremy Slater, who ultimately received co-writing credit in the final film. [10] The completed film was released by Netflix in 2017 and starred Nat Wolff, Margaret Qualley, Lakeith Stanfield, and Willem Dafoe. [11]
In 2010, their spec script Hell to Pay was included on the Hit List, an annual survey of the most buzzworthy spec screenplays. The list highlights original scripts that have gained significant attention within the film industry and is compiled from votes by development executives, producers, agents, managers, and assistants. [12]
In 2020, the brothers co-created the animated series Blood of Zeus for Netflix, developed by Powerhouse Animation Studios. [13] The series centers on Heron, a demigod and son of Zeus, and incorporates elements of Greek mythology. [14] It was praised for its narrative, animation style, and mythological themes, and was subsequently renewed for a second season, which premiered in 2024. [15]
In November 2020, Den of Geek praised Charley and Vlas Parlapanides for creating Blood of Zeus, calling it a “radical reimagining of Greek mythology” that blends emotional depth with mythic scope. The outlet noted that their approach—balancing mature storytelling with blockbuster action—helped the series stand out within Netflix’s growing slate of adult animation, earning critical acclaim and resonating with both fans of mythology and genre audiences alike. [16]
In 2023, Collider ranked Blood of Zeus at number two on its list of the “10 Best TV Shows Based on Mythology”, placing it ahead of live-action series such as Outlander and American Gods, and only behind Vikings in the ranking. [17] The list described the series as a near-universal favorite among mythology adaptations for its originality.
Beyond these works, the Parlapanides brothers have written screenplays for major studios such as Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures. [18] They have also contributed to the development of television pilots and feature films across both live-action and animated formats. [19]
Television
- Blood of Zeus (2020–present) – Creators, writers, executive producers
Comics
In addition to their work in animation, film and television, Charley and Vlas Parlapanides have ventured into the world of comics with the debut of the fantasy-mystical saga INK, illustrated by Marco Failla. The story was introduced in Heavy Metal Magazine #2, which saw an early release at San Diego Comic-Con (July 23–27, 2025) before its wider distribution beginning July 30, 2025 heavymetal.com. [20]
