KIRKMAN ON INVINCIBLE'S MOVIE NEWS

[MattBrady]

by Chris Arrant

Invincible: (adj.) Incapable of being overcome or defeated; unconquerable.

For fans of the comic series Invincible, that description is more than apt for not only the hero of the series, but also the series itself. According to ICV2.com's statistics on direct market sales, Invincible has steadily increased in sales over the course of the series. Truly a testament to the hard work and creativity that the Invincible team have put into the title, Image has seen over a 50% increase in sales since the inaugural issue. But that's not the only good news.

Comic websites worldwide were ablaze with the news last week that Paramount Pictures has picked up the Image series, with co-creator/writer Robert Kirkman attached as screenwriter. According to Variety, the studio plans to turn the property into a franchise of its own. Co-produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Constantine, Doom) and Circle of Confusion, this Eisner-nominated title looks to be heading into theatres worldwide. Newsarama had a chance speak with series creator & writer Robert Kirkman about the announcement, and what he's excited about.

Newsarama: First off, nothing in Hollywood is sudden, so how long has this deal been in the works?

Robert Kirkman: I’ve been working with David Alpert at Circle of Confusion for a long time on doing something with Invincible. At times we were talking to people about it being an animated show, a live-action sitcom, and eventually, it happened as a feature. Things went far enough last year for David to actually fly to Korea to meet with an animation studio. It just goes to show how fickle things can be out in Hollywood.

NRAMA: Speaking of that, how did you hook up with David and Circle of Confusion?

RK: I met David at the Wizard World: Chicago convention in 2001. He was representing Dreamwave at the time and had gotten in with a Dreamwave badge. He came by my booth while I was hawking Battle Pope and I asked him what he did for Dreamwave. When he said "I'm thier representation in Hollywood" I latched onto him and haven't let go. It really was a chance meeting, thank you Dreamwave.

NRAMA: Is this movie intended to be live action or animated?

RK: Live action, at least that’s how I understand it now. What I have planned in the screenplay would really work better as live-action.

NRAMA: Do you foresee any obvious changes in adapting your story for the big screen?

RK: There will certainly be tweaks here and there. Nothing I’d really want to go into too much detail about. There will be much less superheroes in this movie than in the comic. The focus will be more firmly on Mark/Invincible and his father Nolan/Omni-Man. There won’t be any of the side characters featured in the comics.

NRAMA: The producer attached to the project is Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who recently producted the movie Constantine (based on DC/Vertigo's Hellblazer). What’s your feel for him?

RK: I’d give Lorenzo a kidney if he asked for it. Not two, but I’d be happy to give him one. Lorenzo’s a swell guy. He’s really got his act together and is out there making things happen. I doubt Invincible could be in better hands.

NRAMA: In the press release, it states that you’ve been tapped to write the screenplay for this movie. How close are you going to adhere to the comic series?

RK: It’s going to be a large section of the series, with stuff cut out and what’s left will be streamlined and expanded upon. I’m really excited to be doing this. I get to really explore some things I glossed over in the series and cut out stuff I didn’t like or thought could play out better. Anyone who’s read the series isn’t going to be sitting there saying “I know what’s going to happen next” if this thing gets made. There’s some more twists and turns added in.

NRAMA: Does this open doors for movies/tv series based on some of your other creations like The Walking Dead, Cloudfall, or dare I say… a Battle Pope live action movie?

RK:That remains to be seen. I’ve been working with Circle of Confusion for some time now with a mind towards optioning all my creator-owned books. We’ll see how things turn out. What I would like to come out of this is more eyes on the Invincible comic series. Ryan Ottley, Bill Crabtree, Rus Wooton, and I are really busting our humps month after month to put out what we think are some swell superhero yarns. Our readership is going up every month but I won’t be satisfied until the book is at least close to the top 50.

Invincible was created by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, and is an ongoing monthly series published by Image Comics, and features the creative team of writer Robert Kirkman, artist Ryan Ottney, colorist Bill Crabtree and letterer Rus Wooton. For more information on this title, check out our interview with Robert Kirkman about the past, present and future of this series.

In addition to the coming #0 issue, Image will be soliciting a hardcover Invincible edition in June, collecting the first thirteen issues of the Eisner-nominated book. Invincible: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1, will clock in at 400 pages and will retail for $34.95. The volume will also contain a plethora of bonus material, as well as an introduction by superstar writer Brian Michael Bendis.

[NielsVanEekelen]

Originally posted by MattBrady
NRAMA: Does this open doors for movies/tv series based on some of your other creations like The Walking Dead, Cloudfall, or dare I say… a Battle Pope live action movie?

RK:That remains to be seen. I’ve been working with Circle of Confusion for some time now with a mind towards optioning all my creator-owned books. We’ll see how things turn out.

Not to take any attention away from this fantastic Invincible news, but how cool would a Lost-style (meaning featuring an enormous cast with a different focus each episode) The Walking Dead TV drama be?


... And that Invincible HC sounds very tempting.

[von Doom, M.D.]

I can't find any back issues, or even Invincible trades, so I'm going to pick up that hardcover.

[Bill_Nolan]

Cory Walker.

Sorry, just thought his name should appear at least once somewhere on this page...

- Bill

[Travel Exiter]

Originally posted by Bill_Nolan
Cory Walker.

Sorry, just thought his name should appear at least once somewhere on this page...

- Bill

Hey, Hey simmer down there.

Next you'll be demanding for Ditko and Kirby's names to appear alongside stuff they had a hand in creating.

[Robert Kirkman]

Kee-rist! The lack of Cory's name in this article is certainly not intentional. You'll notice I didn't mention MY name either.

I should be refered to as "co-creator" up there... not "creator."

-Robert

[ChrisArrant]

Everything's fixed, guys. Cory Walker's contributions to the creation of Invincible, and illustrating the first set of issues shouldn't be forgotten.

[Mr. !]

Originally posted by MattBrady
RK: There will certainly be tweaks here and there. Nothing I’d really want to go into too much detail about. There will be much less superheroes in this movie than in the comic. The focus will be more firmly on Mark/Invincible and his father Nolan/Omni-Man. There won’t be any of the side characters featured in the comics.

RK: It’s going to be a large section of the series, with stuff cut out and what’s left will be streamlined and expanded upon. I’m really excited to be doing this. I get to really explore some things I glossed over in the series and cut out stuff I didn’t like or thought could play out better. Anyone who’s read the series isn’t going to be sitting there saying “I know what’s going to happen next” if this thing gets made. There’s some more twists and turns added in.

This sounds so refreshing to hear. One of the worse things about comic book movies is how they seem to cram the story with as many characters and subplots as they can, whether they add to the story or not. The Batman movies were only about colorful villains and Daredevil was like a comic book subplots and injokes clown car.

I'm fairly new to Invincible. Two weeks ago I decided to buy the 1st TPB and I just finished reading the 3rd last night. I'm glad to hear it's transition to the big screen will expand on Mark and Nolan's relationship. And Debbie! She's a great character.

[Cmdr_Y]

Wahoo!

I loves me some Invincible.


So, when we gonna hear about The Walking Dead, the tv series?

[James Seals]

Whereas the comic series is concerned, I intend to give issue #0 it's shot.

From there ... we'll see...

Concerning news of an upcoming motion picture, I think it's good that creators are allowed involvement in the process, especially in the creator owned market. Hopefully, this will stem the tides of horrendous superhero spectacles we've been seeing out of Marvel of late.

James

[robnor]

hmm...after reading that article... im thinking an animated series could be really cool for this book. not that i am wanting that over a live action movie... but still, an animated series.. that could be sweet.
oh well.... if this gets made...could be a GREAT movie.

rob

[Robert_Coyner]

Okay - the Walking Dead on HBO, Scifi or FX would be really rad... I like that suggestion. It would be cool to see a tv series rather than another zombie movie...

[TPoole138]

Originally posted by NielsVanEekelen
Not to take any attention away from this fantastic Invincible news, but how cool would a Lost-style (meaning featuring an enormous cast with a different focus each episode) The Walking Dead TV drama be?


... And that Invincible HC sounds very tempting.

I was thinking the same thing. Especially if its on HBO or one of the other premium channels.

[Ray Dillon]

Man, I hope this all works out. This movie will rule. It's great that Robert was signed on for the screenplay.

Congrats to Robert, Wya, Bill, and Rus.

Think I'll be picking up that Ultimate Collection, too.

[frozencactus]

A month before last year's Wizard World Chicago a friend told me about Invincible. When I arrived at WWC I picked up all of the issues and had my Walking Dead TPB signed. I have been a Kirkmanite ever since. It is great to see a great writer and a such a friendly person receive such a great honor. Best of luck on your future endeavors!

[Kirk Kushin]

I'm proud to say that I was into Invincible early on. I read a review of issue number one and picked it up and was hooked. I thought it was doomed because it was too light-hearted to survive in this jaded comic world. It's been cool to see Kirkman's fortunes rise like they have and more people discover the book. It goes to show you that ideas that may not be "hot" in comics have a lot of mainstream appeal. His success gives a lot of inspiration to us other indy guys out here toiling in the fields...

Way to go!

[Bill_Nolan]

Originally posted by Robert Kirkman
Kee-rist! The lack of Cory's name in this article is certainly not intentional. You'll notice I didn't mention MY name either.

I should be refered to as "co-creator" up there... not "creator."

-Robert

I wasn't criticizing you personally. I thought he should have at least been mentioned in the stuff at the end about the hardcover. And now he is. His name hasn't really shown up in the movie announcement articles, so I thought I would throw it in the comments section, that's all.

Now, if he would only draw some more comics...

- Bill

[shifty]

This is really pretty exciting. I've been reading Invincible since the first ish and I love it.

I'm kinda pissed though. I had an idea to do a story that was pretty much exactly the whole Omni-Man thing if I was ever to actually write comics. But then Kirkman comes along and beats me to it. Bastard.

[samnoir]

Originally posted by TPoole138
I was thinking the same thing. Especially if its on HBO or one of the other premium channels.

I think it would definately have to be on a cable station for an adult audience rather than a network to be effective.

The graphic horror of the Walking Dead is really an integral part of the series in being able to experience what the characters in the book are experiencing.

Walking Dead would definately be better as a ensemble character driven episodic format TV series, otherwise if they did it as a movie, there wouldn't be much to seperate it from Romero's Living Dead series.

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[theprimedreamer]

This is great news. I'm more inclined to watch a movie when its scripted by people who are/were directly involved with it on the comic book level, such as Sin City. But then again, fan directors and writers also make good movies (in my opinion, that is) like Hellboy and Spider-Man and X-Men (Singer). I hope the best for Kirkman and Company. And I can't wait for the massive hardcover, I'm definitely going to get that.

I wonder though, I hope they add that scene in Issue 1 where Mark's on the john reading a comic, I thought that was hillarious!

[Peagle8]

Originally posted by MattBrady
In addition to the coming #0 issue, Image will be soliciting a hardcover Invincible edition in June, collecting the first thirteen issues of the Eisner-nominated book. Invincible: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1, will clock in at 400 pages and will retail for $34.95. The volume will also contain a plethora of bonus material, as well as an introduction by superstar writer Brian Michael Bendis.

Nice. I have all the individual issues, but this hardcover will be too good to pass up. Congrats on the movie deal Robert!

[Rorshoq]

Does anyone else want to know how much money Kirkman got for this? I met him in San Diego last year, and he was really a nice guy...one of the coollest and approachable guys at the convention. However, I always wonder about the finances in these deals...did he just get a check for $2 million bucks? Did they give him $50K, with the rest possible if the movie comes out? Is it extremely rude for an interviewer to ask that question?

[grphxkindaguy]

Originally posted by Peagle8
Nice. I have all the individual issues, but this hardcover will be too good to pass up. Congrats on the movie deal Robert!

Ditto!!!

Kirkman's stuff is brilliant IMO.

Anyone not reading his work (especially Invincible, Walking Dead and MTU), are really missing out and should be pitied.

[Goat warrior]

Invincible is a great book, one of the best super-hero title on the market. Now, if only Robert Kirkman could write Spider-man (just read Marvel team-up, you'll see what I mean).

[MichaelCoughlin]

Kirkman's gone Hollywood on us!