Variety reports that Reliance Big Entertainment is in the Youngblood business.
The Indian media conglom has acquired Rob Liefeld’s iconic graphic novel “Youngblood” for Brett Ratner to direct.
I know, I know. Some of you will be stuck on iconic. There’s more.
“Most of the great graphic novels are gone, and ‘Youngblood’ is one of the few comicbooks left with tentpole potential,” Ratner told Daily Variety. “It was a real personal passion project for me, and a lot of people wanted (‘Youngblood’), but the amazing thing about the guys at Reliance is the speed with which they’re able to move.”
I’d like to note a point that they’ve used twice in this discussion: Youngblood was a series of series that rarely made it into trade form. It’s annoying to hear “graphic novel” used in the way that it is. If people discussed the music industry and referred to singles as albums, it would get old real fast.
“Say, Mr. Bono, sir; I loved that album “Where the Streets Have No Name.” I dug it.”
“Sorry, young man, that’s a single, not an album.”
“Okay, Mr. Bono, but I think that calling it an album gives it more weight.”
“Whatever. I’ll be over here negotiating peace in the Middle East. Play the blues, Edge!”
Ratner also has the rights to the French “Fly Wires”, which will be renamed “Infinity” for film.
[Via Variety]
February 9th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Hey DC/Warner, talk to Jim Lee (that the guy who likes drawing Batman) and Didio and get WildCats and/or The Authority optioned for that niche between Watchmen and Dark Knight
First!?
February 9th, 2009 at 10:29 am
It will have to be computer animated to get the anatomy and proportions to Liefeldian standards.
Actually what if it’s a hit and suddenly it becomes a fashion trend to wear lots of pouches and shoulder pads? NOOOOOOO!
February 9th, 2009 at 10:42 am
And here I thought that “Dark Wolverine” was the silliest thing that I had read recently.
Teehee!
February 9th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Terrible director adapts terrible comic into film?
Sounds like a recipe for absolute brilliance to me.
/snark
February 9th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
On a more serious note, there’s so much other source material just waiting to be adapted, I’m surprised Youngblood was at the top of anyone’s list. In my mind, Youngblood was always a shallow concept at best with fairly flat characters. I must admit, however, that I’m basing this knowledge from the few issues I read in the mid-90s.
February 9th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I said much the same thing earlier today, Jason. Your comment got past the moderator, but mine, alas, did not. I didn’t know that using the work “suck” means you can’t get your comment posted on this blog (even though I’ve seen far stronger language here). I’m pretty sure the old Blog@ crew would’ve let go it through.
So, to review: Liefeld+Ratner = epic fail
February 9th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Yeah, I was going to say, at least they got the Liefeld of film directors to direct a Liefeld adaptation.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Actually Youngblood as a “Graphic Novel” has SOME weight. Even though there was only one tpb back in the 90s (Baptism of Fire i think?), that was typical for the era. Distribution was not focused on back catalog and library with the exception of DC, which primarily has focussed on such dice the distributor exclusivity wars in the middle of that decade. Back to the point, YOUNGBLOOD has had two graphic novel releases over the last year with the Remastered mini series in Hardcover form and the new series of Joe Casey/Derec Donovan in TPB form. So I don’t think the U2/Where the Streets have no name comparison is exactly true right now.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Youngblood was a terrible comic.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Knock off the name-calling, kids.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:25 am
Ed Says:
“Yeah, I was going to say, at least they got the Liefeld of film directors to direct a Liefeld adaptation.”
The Liefeld of directors? I always figured that to be Uwe Boll.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Youngblood 60 million copies sold worldwide. Issues 1-4 sold 1 million copies each.
Over 100 issues of Youngblood comics.
Acclaimed talent such as Alan Moore, Robert Kirkman, Mark Millar, Kurt Busiek, Joe Casey and Kieth Giffen have contributed to the series.
Hate is ugly brutha’s.
May 24th, 2009 at 12:50 am
BURN!
Even if you didn’t like the Youngblood comic, the characters and idea behind the whole concept are solid.
And no one can deny the sales figures: Youngblood sold. You can argue that The Authority was a better series, but you will have a much harder time arguing that anyone outside of the most well-read comic circles have any clue what it is. If Hollywood’s making an action movie from a RECOGNIZED comic book property, there aren’t too many left to chose from.