Mark Millar (WANTED,KICK-ASS) has been working on an upcoming comic series entitled, NEMESIS that Millar is currently getting a bit of guff from the DC Comics legal department for describing it as “What if Bruce Wayne was the Joker?” or “What if Batman was a total c*nt?” which is how it was pitched and how it started drawing interest, not only in comic book circles but apparently in Hollywood as well – for a possible big-screen adaptation.
Though Marvel will publish the comics, the rights will remain with Millar and artist Steve McNiven and they will be able to sell the film rights to whomever they desire.
While Millar says that he’s not going to discuss any deals until March, there is apparently interest and two names that are already being rumored to possibly helm the film adaptation are Sam Raimi and Guy Ritchie.
Millar took to his own forums to address a rumor about Sam Raimi directing Nemesis:
“Can I just stomp this rumour before it gets any further? This week CAA was approached by an A-list director to buy Nemesis before it goes to auction in March. Then Sam announces he’s not involved in the Spider-Man franchise any more, pursuing other projects. A lot of movie sites got in touch last night asking if the two stories are linked, but I just want to make it clear that Sam is not the guy who contacted my agent. I actually think he’s one of the three best living directors and would be honoured to have him on anything I do, but he’s not the guy who got in touch and the truth is that I’m not taking this out until March as originally planned. I want to have the whole thing finished before anybody reads it as Steve and I think we’re onto something pretty special here. Civil War and Old Man Logan were massive hits, but the interest in this from the moment we even said the title has just been unprecedented. We want to make sure this goes to the right guy, though Raimi would actually be an amazing choice and it would be a hilarious middle-finger to all the suits he just walked away from. I’ll keep you posted.”
And then… the very next day, Millar was back on the forums, posting an entry titled RAIMI DIRECTING NEMESIS MIGHT NOT BE CRAZY AFTER ALL! which said:
“Things move fast in Hollywoodland. I just woke up to some VERY unexpected emails…
To be continued.
MM”
A reader then asked if this came out of someone actually reading the script and wanting to do a deal or just the suits jumping on the Millar mobile due to the early buzz KICK-ASS has received.
“Nobody has seen the scripts yet. The interest in based on Wanted doing 350 mill, insane buzz around town on Kick-Ass and that CBR interview where the Nemesis high concept was explained and visual released. It’s pretty crazy, but a lot of people are trying to get this before it goes elsewhere. Have another thing coming with Leinil after Summer and someone made an offer for this without even knowing what it is. Crazy times.”
Then on down, someone offered up the suggestion to Millar that Ritchie should direct NEMESIS:
“I was actually going to talk to Guy about it in the next couple of weeks, but wondered if a brilliant cop versus brilliant supervillain might be too much like Sherlock Holmes. I’m seeing Matthew [Vaughn] this week and will see what he reckons. Like you said… exciting times.”
