Dark Horse and Universal Play Ball

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One of the biggest independent comic book companies around, Dark Horse, has signed a deal with Universal Pictures giving them first rights at anything they produce.

The three-year production and distribution agreement between the two companies allows Universal access to all Dark Horse characters and properties, in addition to anything that Dark Horse may acquire in the period. This is a boon for the house of Hellboy – already a major motion picture success on its way to a sequel – and could see film adaptations for books such as Fear Agent, Umbrella Academy and SpyBoy.

"We have a number of projects that we've had early discussions about, and I have definite ideas of the films I want to introduce into the deal and start working on," said Dark Horse president Mike Richardson. "We'll sit down and talk and see which one they agree with me on."

Universal did pretty well out of this as well, considering that they have pretty much just acquired themselves an R&D department. "To be able to have one place where you've got guys who are really embracing ideas is an incredible opportunity for a studio" said Universal co-chairman David Linde. "We as a studio can't possibly do ourselves what Dark Horse is doing every day."

This is the third studio to make a deal with a major comic publishing house, following in the wake of Warner Bros. owned DC Comics and the partnership between Paramount and Marvel.

We’ve already seen Dark Horse adaptations hit the big screen in the form of films like The Mask and Mystery Men, and with the commercial success of Hellboy, Dark Horse’s partnership with Universal was a natural fit.

Joshua S. Hill
3/18/2008
Source: Reuters

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