Franchises rule the roost in Hollywood these days, so here’s a couple updates on some comics that are now winding their way to the big screen and may become a new tentpole in a theater near you.
First up, GK Films continue their relationship with Johnny Depp (so far collaborating on “The Tourist,” “Rango,” “The Rum Diary” and “Dark Shadows“) teaming with actor’s Infinitum Nihil production shingle to pick up the movie rights to the comic “The Vault.” Written by Sam Sarkar, the underwater sci-fi tale (and no, we’re not talking about “Avatar 2“) follows “a group of divers who, off the coast of Nov Scotia, uncover a sarcophagus with unusual remains and inadvertently unleash an ancient evil.” Basically sounds like a mashup of “The Mummy” and “The Abyss” or something but yeah, the premise doesn’t thrill us just yet. The comic hit shelves last week and will run as a three issue mini-series. No writer has been announced, but we suppose it’s only a matter of time before Depp’s name is linked as a potential star.
Meanwhile, over at Warner Bros., they’ve picked up Nate Simpson‘s “Nonplayer” with ‘Harry Potter‘ producer David Heyman teaming with Roy Lee to bring it to the big screen. Encouragingly, this story has centers on a female lead, Dana Stevens, “a brilliant young woman who retreats from the dismal workaday world of the future into the digital fantasy realm of Jarvath, where she’s a fearless warrior.” Granted, the story sounds a bit iffy, but Heyman is currently getting Alfonso Cuaron‘s “Gravity” off the ground (get it!?) and seems to have a taste for tales off the beaten path, so we remain intrigued. As for Roy, he’s one of the dudes behind that “Oldboy” remake that’s brewing, so these guys don’t mind taking risks. Like “The Vault,” there is no writer just yet. [THR/Variety]
