The short-lived 1980s Marvel Comics series Strikeforce: Morituri will reportedly be turned into a feature film. I'll admit, I'm unfamiliar with this comic series, but the premise sound's really interesting.
Strikeforce: Morituri, which ran from 1986 to 1989, was set on an Earth nearly conquered by resource-stealing alien invaders [The Horde]. A scientific process is designed to give a squadron of humans super-powers to fight the aliens, but it also dooms them to die within a year. The series followed the heroic exploits of the strike force who knew they're doomed regardless of how they fare against the aliens.
According to Variety, the screen rights to the title were snagged by Waterman Entertainment who have tapped the series' creator-writer, Peter B. Gillis, to script the movie along with Connor Cochran. Jeff Beard will produce. The trade says Waterman Entertainment aims to start production this December.
Note:While the setting of Strikeforce: Morituri resembles no future seen in any other Marvel title, the Horde appear to have gathered trophies from residents of the Marvel Universe, including Captain America's Shield, the Silver Surfer's board and Galactus's helmet, as well as shelves of what appear to be power batteries used by DC's Green Lantern Corps. At the time, that appeared to be an in-joke rather than a serious plot point. But it is now considered serious since Marvel has designated the Strikeforce Morituri universe as Earth-1287 of its shared multiverse, as seen in Marvel Alternate Universes 2005.
Strikeforce: Morituri is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics from 1986 to 1989. The series was created by writer Peter B. Gillis and artist Brent Anderson.
The premise is that aliens have invaded Earth and nearly succeeded in conquering it and stripping it of its resources. A scientist discovers a process which can provide humans with superhuman powers, effectively creating a group of defending superheroes. However, the process would also ensure that the empowered humans would die within a year of being empowered. The series thus focused on the heroism of the main characters in fighting the invaders, while living with the knowledge that their fates were sealed regardless of whether or not they prevailed.
The title comes from the Latin phrase: "Morituri te salutamus" (We who are about to die salute you!), a salute that according to popular legend (not academically agreed) was uttered by Roman gladiators before battle in the arena. The subtitle of the comic was "We who are about to die".
Gillis and Anderson left the series within two years. The series was eventually ended after 31 issues, under the tenure of writer James Hudnall and artist Mark Bagley.
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