Boom Studios! “Mouse Guard” could very well be the next comic book film hit that the mainstream won’t see coming. The fantasy film features a story of medieval action, but through the perspective of mice. And to bring that to life, motion capture legend, Andy Serkis (‘Lord of the Rings’), along with Thomas Brodie-Sangster (“Game of Thrones”), has been announced as the lead of Twentieth Century Fox’s adaptation of David Peterson’s long running comic book series.
Here is the series’ official synopsis:
Mice struggle to live safely and prosper amongst harsh conditions and a host of predators. Thus, the Mouse Guard was formed. More than just soldiers that fight off intruders, they are guides for common mice looking to journey without confrontation from one hidden village to another.
“Mouse Guard” has a passionate legion of followers, much to do with Peterson’s singular art style and attention of detail paid to anthropomorphic anatomy – so Serkis’ casting should be incredibly exciting news for its fans (including this writer). The movie is set to be directed by Wes Ball (“The Maze Runner”) and is being produced by Ross Richie – founder of Boom! Studios – alongside Stephen Christy and Joe Hartwick Jr.
While geeks whose childhoods have been scorned ignorantly bicker on and on about whether or not Captain Marvel “hates men” (she doesn’t), independent comics –a blanket term for series not printed by Marvel and DC – are quietly finding their footing as the future of Hollywood IPs. Sequential art stories that have been passionately shilled for by the fast-moving lips of periodical readers, but are just now entering the public consciousness of binge-watch culture – see: “Deadly Class,” “Umbrella Academy,” and “The Walking Dead” – are exactly what content providers are looking for at the moment. Point to an acclaimed comic on the shelves, odds are, it has already been optioned.
20th Century Fox made a deal with Boom Studios! – acquiring the rights to their library of titles – a couple of years back. No doubt, Fox is counting on all the talent and acclaim over at Boom! to strengthen their brand moving forward, especially now that Disney has locked down rights to almost ever Marvel Comics property, and a little space opera you might have heard of called “Star Wars,” while WB has the other major comic book publisher DC Comics locked up.
Production of “Mouse Guard” is expected to begin later this year.