HUGH JACKMAN TO CREATE COMIC BOOK PROPERTY FOR VIRGIN

[MattBrady]

Press Release

Superstar actor Hugh Jackman, already portraying a comic book character in 20th Century Fox's upcoming Wolverine, is now teaming with Hollywood scribe Marc Guggenheim and publisher Virgin Comics to create the original comic series Nowhere Man. Story details are being kept under wraps but Virgin officials describe the story as a Sci Fi odyssey set in a groundbreaking vision of the future in which mankind has traded privacy for safety. “I’ve had so much fun in the graphic novel world with the X-MEN franchise that I wanted to get even more involved,” said Jackman about the project. “I am so excited to work with Virgin and Marc and create a compelling character and story that hopefully will also make it to the big screen." Virgin will team with Seed Productions, Jackman’s production company with producer John Palermo, to create the comic series and then take it into film and other areas. Added Palermo: “Seed is thrilled to be in business with Virgin Comics and Marc Guggenheim on this innovative project. From working on the X-MEN films, we have studied the thought and artistry that go into every issue of a graphic novel series and cannot wait to dive in ourselves.”

Marc Guggenheim, who will pen the original series, is no stranger to comics. He has previously authored comics on Marvel’s Wolverine series as well as the best-selling Amazing Spider-Man. Guggenheim has also most recently seen his creative work succeed on the small screen. His Eli Stone is currently running on ABC television to strong reviews.

“Virgin Comics is focused on pairing the best comic book talents with icons in the entertainment industry to develop original stories,” said Sharad Devarajan, Virgin Comics CEO. "Hugh Jackman and Marc Guggenheim working together on Nowhere Man is a perfect combination that promises a great story for everyone.”

Added Gotham Chopra, Virgin Comics Chief Creative Officer who will oversee the development of the series with Amanda Schweitzer of Jackman’s Seed Productions: “we’re already up and running on the creative side of things and having a lot of fun. We believe that our new partnership with the team at Seed on Nowhere Man is the start of something big.”

[Red X]

Stranger things huh.

[British Gent]

Sounds interesting, Jackman seems like nice fella.

[Spookyjesus]

Wasn't there a sci-fi show called Nowhere Man. I know it's a Beatles song but I'm sure there was a Fugitive thing about like a savant guy -

Nothing to do with this - but - this has me uninspired. Did Jackman just have a brain fart concept or will he be on pencils since it has a writer?

[whitemarkd]

Picture looks more like Kevin Sorbo than Hugh Jackman...

[Question86]

Originally Posted by British Gent

Sounds interesting, Jackman seems like nice fella.

Except he wants a PG-13 Wolverine flick.

[johnnyrocket]

Why? I mean, WHY?

Gotta run. The sharks are a jumpin'!

[PastorAarn]

When I first read this I got excited because I thought they were continuing the old "Nowhere Man" TV show from like 15 years ago. I loved that show and watched every episode. I was so disappointed that it never got another season. Since then I have tried not to watch any shows until I'm sure it will last more than a season. (Of course I broke this rule with "Jericho" and I will pay the price tonight when it ends and is gone forever. At least they got to do an 8 episode postscript)

[Sano]

"Story details are being kept under wraps but Virgin officials describe the story as a Sci Fi odyssey set in a groundbreaking vision of the future in which mankind has traded privacy for safety."

A time when mankind has traded privacy for safety huh? So the story takes place far into the future, somewhere between 2001 and 2008. BRILLIANT!

Nah just playing LOL! Wolverine actor + One of the best Wolverine writers = Insta-win. Don't know if I'll pick it up but at least this sounds interesting.

[comicbfan]

Hmmm...does anyone like the art on the Virgin books?

[TerriG]

Originally Posted by whitemarkd

Picture looks more like Kevin Sorbo than Hugh Jackman...

hahah first thing I thought as well.

[ducko5]

Notice how careful he was not to say "Comics" or "Comic Books"? Are those terms still taboo in Hollywood?
I think Hugh is being pretty clever about this. Everybody has a cool script idea they want to work on, and comics are a hot commodity right now. By making his script into a comic first, he lets it stand apart from all the other scripts out there and generates a fan base and brand recognition long before pre-production even begins.

[majorjoe23]

Originally Posted by Question86

Except he wants a PG-13 Wolverine flick.

Most of Wolverine's comic appearances would qualify as PG-13. Check out the intense school siege scene in X2. PG-13 movies can be pretty intense, as long as there isn't any swearing or nudity.

And it's not Jackman who wants it PG-13. It's Marvel, Fox, Wal-Mart, Hasbro and a ton of licensors who want to put Wolverine's face on children's underwear and yogurt packages.

[coolmvm]

Man, I wonder if Wolverine will be slightly mention within this comic.

[Gcplayer]

At least Jackman has some sort of affection for comics. The comic book medium is starting to gain more respect in Hollywood.

[Dave41Fan]

Originally Posted by Spookyjesus

Wasn't there a sci-fi show called Nowhere Man. I know it's a Beatles song but I'm sure there was a Fugitive thing about like a savant guy -

Nothing to do with this - but - this has me uninspired. Did Jackman just have a brain fart concept or will he be on pencils since it has a writer?

Well, if you follow Virgin Comics, Jenna Jameson teamed up with Christina Z to "write" Shadow Hunter, even though they're both writers.

Though the idea of Hugh Jackman on pencils would rock the comics world (the first actor or "Hollywood" personality I can think of to DRAW a comic as opposed to take a writing credit), I doubt it would happen.

Craig

[Rocketeer]

Just when I thought Wolverine couldn't be in any more comics....

[Sano]

Originally Posted by ducko5

Notice how careful he was not to say "Comics" or "Comic Books"? Are those terms still taboo in Hollywood?
I think Hugh is being pretty clever about this. Everybody has a cool script idea they want to work on, and comics are a hot commodity right now. By making his script into a comic first, he lets it stand apart from all the other scripts out there and generates a fan base and brand recognition long before pre-production even begins.

LOL I wish comics were taboo in Hollywood. That would keep Hollywood far away from the San Diego comic con. There's a bunch of actors who have never read a comic in their lives pitching movies that have nothing to do with comics....

Though yeah ever since Spider-Man 1, maybe you can go back as far as Tim Burton's Batman - Comic book movies = buckets of money. It's not taboo, heck Hollywood is going to mine that well until it's dry...

[nickmarino]

Originally Posted by comicbfan

Hmmm...does anyone like the art on the Virgin books?

i thought the art on the Jenna Jameson book was awesome, though some of the other books haven't been for me. i talked to the Virgin EiC recently for an interview (btw, we broke the Jackman news on my podcast last week!), and the impression i got was that they're trying to take chances with the art rather than settle into a comfortable style. to me that also meant that they're going to put out a wide range of art as well.

[canugrok]

...and yet another reason for Dr. Cox to hate Hugh Jackman!!

[Userama]

not to be a negative nelly, but if he wants this to be a movie so bad, why not just pitch it as a movie? In my opinion, when you don't actually want your story to be told in the medium you are using, its quality is already compromised. and Calling X-men comics "graphic novels" just reaks of condescension. (I know X2 was based on a graphic novel, god loves man kills, but it sounds as if he thinks all comics should be called 'graphic novels')

[heat vision]

Originally Posted by Userama

not to be a negative nelly, but if he wants this to be a movie so bad, why not just pitch it as a movie? In my opinion, when you don't actually want your story to be told in the medium you are using, its quality is already compromised. and Calling X-men comics "graphic novels" just reaks of condescension. (I know X2 was based on a graphic novel, god loves man kills, but it sounds as if he thinks all comics should be called 'graphic novels')

Ha, I thought the same thing when he said that. I didn't react in any negative way, but I thought, more than anything else, that he just wasn't familiar with the difference. Who knows. From everything that I've seen of Jackman though, he seems like a really good guy, so I have no reason to assume anything negative. That's just my take though.

[BanMan]

Originally Posted by Userama

not to be a negative nelly, but if he wants this to be a movie so bad, why not just pitch it as a movie? In my opinion, when you don't actually want your story to be told in the medium you are using, its quality is already compromised. and Calling X-men comics "graphic novels" just reaks of condescension. (I know X2 was based on a graphic novel, god loves man kills, but it sounds as if he thinks all comics should be called 'graphic novels')

For one thing, it costs a lot more to make a movie than it does a comic book/graphic novel. I don't know, but I also wager that he'd get more creative control with a comic book than a movie.

There are advantages to be had in each medium. It's hard to hate on Jackman because he sees that.

[JoeZhang]

Notice how careful he was not to say "Comics" or "Comic Books"? Are those terms still taboo in Hollywood?

What? you think he writes his own press statements?

[J S Roberts]

Originally Posted by comicbfan

Hmmm...does anyone like the art on the Virgin books?

Yep. Some titles are an acquired taste, but Game Keeper was fantastic. The mini, anyway. I saw the art in the ongoing and it's totally different. Not bad, but too jarring a change for me to buy it.