Rob Liefeld’s Extreme Universe Lands At Netflix
Netflix has bet big on the
Extreme Universe of graphic novel characters hatched by
Rob Liefeld, whose disruptive
Deadpool creation was
the blockbuster movie surprise of 2016. Netflix has made a seven-figure rights deal, and
Akiva Goldsman will set up and oversee a high-end writers’ room — similar to ones he has run for the
Ology series, and the
Transformers spinoffs — to generate a series of feature films with connective tissue, anchored by Liefeld’s comic book creations. Goldsman, Liefeld and Brooklyn Weaver will be the producers. Weed Road’s Greg Lessans will be exec producer.
The marriage between Extreme Universe and Goldsman came out of a
n earlier deal for Liefeld’s Avengelyne, which he is developing to direct at Paramount. The new deal gives Netflix a shot at a branded series of films. Extreme Universe covers six comic books, encompassing more than 50 characters that include Brigade, Bloodstrike, Cybrid, Re-Gex, Bloodwulf and Kaboom. An earlier
deal had been struck involving producer Graham King and Fundamental Films, but that did not work out and Netflix stepped up.
The Extreme Universe characters are written very much in the subversive, edgy style that defined
Deadpool. The Fox film became the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever, with a sequel opening May 18.
Essentially, Netflix has bet on a beachhead of fresh IP consisting of new characters for the big screen, at a time when superhero IP is in short supply.
“Rob Liefeld’s Extreme Universe features gritty stories and distinctive characters,” said Netflix feature film chief
Scott Stuber. “Akiva’s creative voice has been behind some of the largest movie franchises, making him uniquely capable of helping bring these superheroes from the Extreme Universe to life for Netflix.”
Netflix is eager to create more new IP after it ordered a sequel from its first big sci-fi tentpole, the David Ayer-directed Will Smith-Joel Edgerton-starrer
Bright.