Thursday, March 26, 2009

Marvel Searches for Next Big Thing

Comic book conglomerate is looking for writers to script ideas for lesser-known characters
BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

Comic book nerds everywhere are excited over the recent news that Marvel Entertainment is searching for talent to step forward with script ideas for film adaptations of some of the more than 5,000 heroes and villains the company owns rights to.

Scriptwriters are encouraged to come forward with any concepts for Marvel's library of comic book characters, many of which are extremely obscure. Some of the lesser known characters that Marvel are contemplating for a feature film include Doctor Strange, Vision, Black Panther, Cable, Nighthawk, and Iron Fist.

Whatever hero/ villain is chosen as the next big screen blockbuster, it will join an elite list of A-class Marvel franchises, including Spider-Man, X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, and their latest recruit, last year's Iron Man.

Some of the other comic series that have been adapted to film have seen less enthusiastic box office numbers and critical praise, including Daredevil (2003), The Fantastic Four (2005), and Ghost Rider (2007). Marvel is currently in the production phase for several upcoming comic flicks, such as The First Avenger: Captain America, Thor, The Avengers, and sequels to Iron Man and Spider-Man, though these films are not part of the script search.

Iron Man was one of the reasons why Marvel sparked a look back at its dusty catalogue of characters, grossing almost $582 million in worldwide ticket sales, despite being a less popular persona.

Marvel is asking potential writers to take on specific pitches for either future character developments or franchises already produced, and is offering as much as $100,000 for a one-year salary. Some of the writers who penned Marvel material prior are not eligible to submit work, including Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Zak Penn, and Justin Theroux.
Marvel's Spider-Man and X-Men trilogies have earned more than $3.63 billion combined in worldwide box office ticket sales alone.

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