The world of comics has taken the film and television industry by storm over the past 20-plus years. More and more comics have been adapted for Hollywood and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
Our second round of optioned comics features books from BOOM! Studios, Image Comics and more. We recommend you read theses comics and be sure to check out Volume 1.
Last Sons of America
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Philip Kennedy Johnson
Artist: Matthew Dow Smith
Optioned by: Netflix
When a biological terrorist attack makes it impossible for anyone in America to conceive children, adoption of kids from other counties explodes. Brothers Jackie and Julian are adoption agents based in Nicaragua. They usually do all their options through legal means, but they’re facing increasing competition from straight-up kidnappers. One desperate move from Jackie could put them in the cross-hairs of some very dangerous people.
In February 2019, Netflix teamed up with Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Matt Reeves (The Batman, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes) and publisher-producer BOOM! Studios to create a feature film adaptation.
The New World
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Ales Kot
Artists: Tradd Moore, Heather Moore
Optioned by: Warner Bros.
The United States of America-after the Second Civil War. Two lovers meet. One: a straight-edge vegan hacker anarchist boy with a penchant for messing with the State. The other: a chaotic, hedonistic cop with a reality TV show and a license to kill. This really shouldn’t happen-and yet, somehow, it does. And soon, the entire state of New California is after them.
This ballistic sci-fi action romance miniseries-in the vein of Mad Max and Romeo and Juliet-from Ale Knot, Tradd Moore, and Heather Moore begins with a massive-sized debut issue, and features a backup comic introducing the talents of Aaron Stewart-Ahn and Sunando C!
In January 2020, Warners Bros. announced they will be adapting The New World into a feature film with Jeremy O. Harris set to write the movie.
Dead Day
Publisher: AfterShock Comics
Writer: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Evgeny Bornyakov
Optioned by: Peacock
If the dead could come back for just one night, would we want them to?
Meet the Haskins, a seemingly normal suburban family, as they prepare for the annual macabre holiday known as “Dead Day” – when the deceased rise from the grave from sunset to sunrise. Some come back to reunite with family and friends, others for one last night of debauchery, still others with only one thing on their decomposing mind: revenge.
From writer Ryan Parrott (Oberon, Volition, Power Rangers) and artist Evgeniy Bornyakov (Descendent, You Are Obsolete) comes an unnerving tale of exis-tential horror with grave consequences.
In January 2022, Peacock gave the straight-to-series order to adapt Dead Day with writers Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson (The Vampire Diaries) attached.
Thumbs
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Sean Lewis
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Optioned by: McFarlane Films
Imagine someone like, say, Mark Zuckerberg created his own army of tech-obsessed teens and directed them to take on the government. What would the fallout be? Charley “Thumbs” Fellows is a member of just such an army. Poor and raised by the influential MOM app, he finds himself in the center of a war. The Social Network meets Blade Runner in this big event book from the team that brought you the hit series THE FEW!
In November 2021, Todd McFarlane (Spawn) announced the creation of McFarlane Films. The first project is Thumbs which will be adapted for television by Anders Weidemann (Beartown, Interrogation) with Sean Lewis (Coyotes) attached to produce.
Sam and Twitch
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Angel Medina
Optioned by: wiip
The Spawn Universe’s favorite detectives come at you full-force in their own groundbreaking series! Featuring an all-star cast of creators, the bar was set high for gritty crime fiction when Sam and Twitch first came on the scene. Follow the exploits of NYPD’s two most dedicated public servants as they try to uncover the secrets behind the Central Park “Witchcraft” murders and also solve the mystery of “Udaku.”
In June 2021, it was announced that wiip is developing a live-action TV series based on Sam and Twitch with Jason Smilovic and Todd Katzberg penning the adaptation.
Irredeemable
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Peter Krause
Optioned by: Netflix
A comic book industry event: a new original ongoing superhero series from Mark Waid! Irredeemable dares to ask the question: what if the world’s greatest hero decided to become the world’s greatest villain? A “twilight of the superheroes”-style story that examines super-villains from the writer of Kingdom Come and Empire!
In March 2022, Netflix announced they are developing a live-action feature film based on Irredeemable and its sister title Incorruptible. Jeymes Samuel will direct, Kemp Powers (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) is writing with Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter and James Lassiter set as producers.
Gideon Falls
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Andrea Sorrentino
Optioned by: Hivemind
The lives of a reclusive young man obsessed with a conspiracy in the city’s trash, and a washed-up Catholic priest arriving in a small town full of dark secrets, become intertwined around the mysterious legend of The Black Barn, an otherworldly building that is alleged to have appeared in both the city and the small town, throughout history, bringing death and madness in its wake.
Rural mystery and urban horror collide in this character-driven meditation on obsession, mental illness, and faith.
In 2018, Hivemand landed the rights to adapt Gideon Falls into a television series. In 2021, Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth, Black Hammer) tweets the first draft script is finished for a TV series with James Wan (Saw, Aquaman) directing the pilot.
BRZRKR
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt
Artist: Ron Garney
Optioned by: Netflix
The man known only as B. is half-mortal and half-God, cursed and compelled to violence…even at the sacrifice of his sanity.
But after centuries, B. may have finally found a refuge – working for the U.S. government to fight the battles too violent and too dangerous for anyone else. In exchange, B. will be granted the one thing he desires: the truth about his endless blood-soaked existence…and how to end it.
Keanu Reeves makes his comic book writing debut alongside New York Times bestselling co-writer Matt Kindt (Folklords, Grass Kings) and acclaimed artist Ron Garney (Juggernaut) in a brutally violent new series about one immortal warrior’s fight through the ages.
In March 2021, Netflix announced they have optioned BRZRKR for a live-action film and anime series. In October 2021, Matt Tomlin (Project Power) was attached to write the live-action film for Netflix.
God Country
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Geoff Shaw
Optioned by: Legendary / Netflix
Souther Bastards meets American Gods in a high-stakes fantasy series that masterfully blends high-octane action and jaw-dropping world building. In God Country, readers meet Emmett Quinlan, an old widower rattled by dementia. Emmett isn’t just a problem for his children – his violent outbursts are more than the local cops can handle. When a tornado levels his home – as well as the surrounding West Texas town-a restored Quinlan rises from the wreckage. An enchanted sword at the eye of the storm gives him more than a sound mind and body, however. He’s now the only man who can face these otherworldly creatures the sword has drawn down to the Lone Star State… In God Country, salvation is a double-edged sword.
In August 2018, the Key Collector Comics app announced God Country was optioned by Legendary. In December 2021, news broke Legendary will produce for Netflix with Jim Mickle (Sweet Tooth) as showrunner.
Eight Billion Genies
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Ryan Browne
Optioned by: Amazon
If you had one wish…what would you wish for? Now, what if everyone else had one wish too? That’s Eight Billion Genies, the new eight-issue series from Charles Soule and Ryan Browne (Curse Words). At exactly the same moment, everyone on earth gets a genie and one wish. All hell breaks loose, in a very entertaining way…and that’s just the beginning. Buckle in for the wildest ride of the year!
In June 2022, Amazon picked up the rights to Eight Billion Genies for a movie plus a more expansive cross-media universe starting with a feature.
