Netflix to create more comic based shows with the purchase of Millarworld.
Netflix appears to be making even more moves into the world of comic book entertainment after its successful collaborations with Marvel characters based from The Defenders, such as Daredevil and Luke Cage.
Yahoo! Movies reports that the streaming service has just purchased Millarworld publishing, the company that made some of the most interesting comic-book adaptations in recent years such as Kingsman and KICK-ASS. It’s previous owner Mark Millar is credited with creating such iconic Marvel titles such as Civil War and Old Man Logan. Millar was clearly happy with the deal and stated,
“Warner Bros bought DC Comics in 1968. Disney bought Marvel in 2009. Today Netflix purchased Millarworld and I’m still blinking. This is only the third time in history that a comic book company purchase on this scale has ever happened.”
Millar founded the company 15 years ago with the intention that he and fellow creators under the Millarword banner would retain the rights to their characters. Millar explained his reasons behind the initial idea for starting the company,
“This was a chance to control the characters created and reap the rewards from any future movies, TV or merchandise that ever came from those characters and books.”
Of the Nexflix acquisition, he stated,
“Over the years Millarworld has amassed twenty different franchises working with the world’s greatest artists and now Millarworld has been bought by the hottest, most exciting entertainment company on the planet.”
Millarworld has of course already tasted success for some of its characters on the big screen with both Kick-Ass movies and Kingsman proving a big hit with a soon to be released sequel. This deal does not include these titles with Kingsman being owned by 20th Century Fox and Kick-Ass still over at Universal but Netflix seem to have big plans for the publisher’s other characters. Netflix boss, Ted Sarandos stated,
“Mark has created a next-generation comics universe full of indelible characters living in situations people around the world can identify easily with. We look forward to creating new Netflix Originals from several existing franchises as well as new super-hero, anti-hero, fantasy, sci-fi and horror stories that Mark and his team will continue to create and publish.”
There is no indication of what existing titles are being looked at for development by Netflix yet but we shall keep you updated with news of this exciting development.