Brian K. Vaughn and Ton Harris'
EX Machina was in development at New Line Cinema from 2005 to 2012, never gaining any traction. Back in December 2018, BKV signed a deal with Legendary Pictures to develop his creator-owned series and we finally have news that
EX Machina will be the first project borne from this partnership (sorry,
Saga fans).
It seems a key executive at New Line, who championed the project, eventually moved on to Legendary and is looking to have greater success. Anna Waterhouse and Joe Sharapnel (Seberg) are writing the script, while Vaughan will serve in a producer capacity.
EX Machina follows a retired superhero who enters the world of politics and the fallout that ensues when the source of his powers returns to claim a debt. The adaptation will be titled
The Great Machine to avoid confusion with Alex Garland's excellent sci-fi masterpiece of the same name.
After growing tired of risking his life, America's first superhero Mitchell Hundred retires from masked crime fighting and runs for mayor of New York City, but he discovers that he has more to worry about than just budget problems.