Netflix’s first major push into the comic book filmmaking world by buying the rights to Mark Millar’s Millarworld line of books is finally going to bear some fruit. According to the streaming service, plans to develop original series and films based on a handful of comic book properties is now moving forward.
For those not aware of Mark Millar, he’s the co-creator behind comics that inspired the films “Wanted,” “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” and “Kick-Ass.” Now, with his deal at Netflix, we’ll be seeing much more from the creator, including series based on “Jupiter’s Legacy” and “American Jesus,” as well as films for “Empress,” “Huck,” and “Sharkey The Bounty Hunter.”
Said Millar, “My wife Lucy and I are eleven months into our jobs at Netflix and it’s everything we hoped for to the power of ten. To see a movie based on your work every couple of years is incredibly exciting, but to see them all happening at once like this and with talent this high-end is just off the scale. These are writers and directors I’ve privately been sending fan-mail to over the last eighteen months so to be working with them all is just enormously exciting. This really is the greatest creative environment I’ve ever worked in. I can’t wait to switch on my computer every morning.”
As for the specific series, “Jupiter’s Legacy” is first up, and is described as a multi-generational superhero epic that follows a group of superpowered children attempting to live up to their legendary feats of their parents. “Daredevil” producer Steven S. DeKnight is aboard to act as showrunner and to direct the first episode.
Next is “American Jesus,” which follows the exploits of a 12-year-old boy, who believes he is the second coming of Jesus Christ. This series will be showrun by Everardo Gout and Leopoldo Gout.
As for films, the first one being put into production is “Empress,” which is about a Queen who must flee her horrible dictator husband with her children and teleport from planet to planet to avoid his wrath. The film is written by Lindsey Beer, who is best known for “Sierra Burgess is a Loser” and “Kingkiller Chronicle.”
The other two films are “Huck,” written by Ted Melfi (“Hidden Figures”), and “Sharkey The Bounty Hunter,” adapted by Michael Bacall (“21 Jump Street”).
No release dates are set, but Netflix released a little teaser on Instagram, seen below:
