Written by Marley Ghizzone
Dark Horse, the comic book powerhouse behind Hellboy and The Mask, is the largest independent comic book publisher in the United States. It is also one of the world’s leading entertainment publisher’s which makes the deal between Dark Horse and Universal Cable Productions super exciting. The multi-year overall deal, beginning at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con, has been a year in the making. UCP, with Dark Horse publishers, will now produce scripted programming from the comics extensive libraries.
With its series Dark Matter currently airing on Syfy, Dark Horse boasts a long history with television and film. Executive Vice President of Development at UCP Dawn Olmstead expanded on the deal between the two companies saying, “Dark Horse Entertainment has an incredible roster of fantastical, witty and mind-bending stories. Their brand has conquered multiple media platforms and boasts iconic books that have attracted the highest level of writers. It’s going to be a wild and imaginative ride.” UCP hopes to build on the current fan base of Dark Horse comics by encouraging the Dark Horse comic creators to develop character-driven television concepts.
There are many projects already in development, including The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way. Cullen Bunn’s (The Sixth Gun) new comic, Harrow County, sold out its first printing making it a perfect addition to the development deal. Eisner Award-winner Paul Chadwick comic Concrete is also in development stages as well as Back Up which is based on a feature length script from Tom Vaughn.
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