A press release will soon be all over the web but Mark Millar was good enough to give us the early word that Mathew Vaughn could well be bringing Superior to the big screen..
Basically, my kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn has bought the movie rights to Superior from me and Leinil Yu and Leinil and I am also teaming up with the MS Society, who want to use the character as it's the first superhero with multiple sclerosis. 2 big stories in one. Vaughn and I have hinted at this for about 18 months, but this is the first we've ever confirmed he's bought the rights
UPDATE: Here is an excerpt from the press release..
New York, October 4, 2011 -- Award-winning comic-book writer Mark Millar is empowering people with MS with his envelope pushing latest character Superior, the first superhero ever to be diagnosed with MS. And he is sharing him with the National MS Society to help raise awareness for MS and the work of the Society.
The hugely popular comic Superior, which is part of the Millarworld line, follows the tale of a young boy living with multiple sclerosis who's granted a magic wish. He asks to be transformed into his favourite big screen action hero and uses his new super-powers to right the real world's wrongs. Whereas most superheroes fight criminals and stop bank robberies, this little boy uses his abilities to end the war in the Middle-East, feed the starving, rescue people from natural disasters and anything else the public wants. But have these incredible powers and worldwide adulation come at a price? This dark, magical tale has been described by critics as Big meets Superman, a unique take on the superhero mythos with a magical element that appeals to Harry Potter fans as much as the traditional superhero audience. The movie rights to this book were snapped up by Kick-Ass and X-Men director Matthew Vaughn with a view to turning this into a Hollywood blockbuster.
The MS Society helps people affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, and providing programs and services that help people with MS and their families move their lives forward. Over the past two decades, tremendous progress has been made in advancing research to stop MS, restore lost function and to end MS forever. In 2012 to further this mission the most aggressive research funding project ever undertaken is being launched, with a goal to raise $250 million over the next five years. To find out more about current campaigns and research.
Graham McReynolds, Executive Vice President Marketing and Development at National MS Society, “We are most grateful to Mark for sharing Superior with us and are really enthused about our alliance. Through Superior’s innovative story, we hope to increase awareness about MS, the challenges it raises for people living with the disease and the importance of always following your dreams despite an MS diagnosis. We also hope to encourage the public to join the MS Movement and help speed the progress we’re making to create a world free of multiple sclerosis. We plan to spotlight Superior through the multi-channels of communication that the Society commands.”
Creator Mark Millar explains, “I wanted to write about a superhero with a disability and I chose MS because it's something that touched one of my school-friends growing up. I'm acutely aware of the unexpected way the disease can strike anyone and the enormous difficulties it can cause. Superhero stories are essentially wish-fulfilment fantasies and nothing seemed more powerful to me than a little boy with a magic wish not only wanting to WALK again, but to FLY. I'm delighted to work with such an incredible institution as the MS Society and feel privileged that they approached me to use this character in a positive way. We're used to seeing characters with MS as victims and I wanted to do something where the kid is not only a lead, but the most powerful person on the planet. I'm really delighted people have taken this to their hearts as much as they have".
Hollywood director Matthew Vaughn was also attracted by the humanity of the lead character and added, “I have always enjoyed working with Mark and his latest exciting project Superior is something that we are very much looking forward to making”. The two worked together most recently on Kick-Ass, which hit number one in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and they're both pleased to be working on another movie together.
What do you guys make of this news? Vaughn has no doubt proved that any CBM he might be involved in should be something very special.
By TwitterButtons.com