Dark Horse Comics and Universal Pictures have struck a 3-year production and distribution deal. This deal means all of Dark Horse’s creative properties optioned for film will be done by Universal. Marc Shmuger and David Linde of Universal Pictures along with Dark Horse’s Mike Richardson were all behind the deal.
Universal Chairman and Co-Chairman Shmuger and Linde had the following to say:
“Dark Horse is one of the most creative and innovative brands in the entertainment industry, as well as an incredibly supportive home for some of the most exciting storytellers working today. Their unique connection to youth culture is proven, and we are thrilled to be part of their expanding film production work.”
Dark Horse President Richardson responded with:
“We’ve worked with many studios and have had several great experiences, but we are particularly happy to be joining forces with Universal Pictures in this deal. We feel a real connection with their vision and the energy and creativity they bring to developing our properties. We are also excited by the option that we’ll have to independently produce our own material and distribute it through Universal; their flexibility in this collaboration is what we were looking for, and we’re glad we found it.”
Universal’s President of Production Donna Langley added:
“We are very much looking forward to working with Dark Horse’s talented writers and artists, and to realizing their wealth of creative content onscreen.”
Seeing how Dark Horse has a huge variety of different stories and comics, this all sounds like good news to me. So anything Dark Horse related hitting the film scene will be done by Universal for the next three years. Dark Horse’s HELLBOY is already in the mix with HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY slated to hit theaters on July 11, 2008.