Rob Liefeld Signs “Seven Figure” Movie Deal For Extreme Studios Library
Rob Liefeld is the glorious, benevolent golden retriever of the Image Comics world. So, despite the fact that his movie deal involves the hack Akiva Goldsman and *doesn’t* involve Youngblood or Prophet, I’m happy for him. Not excited for whatever may come of this, but happy for him.
Rob Liefeld’s Extreme Universe is the subject of the first big Hollywood comic book deal of 2017, with the creator reportedly getting a seven figure payday for the rights to a number of his creator-owned characters.
According to Deadline, the Extreme Universe will be developed for the big screen by Graham King and Fundamental Films, along with Weed Road’s Akiva Goldsman, Energy Entertainment’s Brooklyn Weaver and Liefeld himself. Goldman previously optioned the rights to Avengelyne, another Liefeld creation, in 2016; he’s currently overseeing the Hasbro movies for Paramount and the writers room for the “Transformers” franchise. Goldman will reportedly head a similar sit-up for Extreme, overseeing a writer’s room tasked with creating a universe of films.
“Over the past nearly 25 years, since launching Image Comics, I’ve been lucky enough to see the power of these stories and characters as they’ve resonated with several generations of comic book fans,” Liefeld said in a statement. “To now be able to work with Akiva Goldsman and Graham King, who are powerhouses in their own right, to bring these compelling characters and conflicts to life on the big screen is nothing short of a dream come true!”
The deal involves a number of Liefeld’s Image Comics creations, including Brigade, Bloodstrike, Cybrid, Lethal, Re-Gex, Bloodwulf, Battlestone, Baboom and Nitro-Gen. Noticeably absent form the line-up are some of Liefeld’s better known comic creations,including Youngblood, Glory and Supreme; would appear that they are not included in the Extreme deal, which involves “9 comic book titles and nearly 100 characters.”
In late 2016, Liefeld shared a screenplay he had written for what he called “my vision of what a Youngblood movie would look and how it would feel like.” Though that team was not part of the announced line up, fans can read the script for themselves and perhaps get a feel for what to expect should the Extreme Universe deal yield a feature film.
Liefeld’s work is in high demand following the success of Fox’s “Deadpool” in 2016, a film based on a character the writer/artist co-created for Marvel Comics in the early ’90s. He was active in the promotion of the hit R-rated superhero film, championing it from its earliest days, making a Stan Lee-esque cameo in the movie, and providing a commentary track for its Blu-ray release.
