Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming aren’t the only fan favorite comic book creators to head to television with their creator-owned work. Next month, we’ll get to see a live action adaptation of ‘Powers’ on the Playstation Network, but a new dynamic duo has ventured from your local comic book shop with the hopes of appearing on your TV sets (or whatever device you use to watch shows on).
According to Deadline, comic book power couple Matt Fraction and Kelly Sue DeConnick has signed a two-year overall deal at Universal TV that will see some of their award-winning comic books developed as original TV series. Additionally, they plan to use their production company Milkfed Criminal Masterminds for other comic creators to develop their stories for TV as well. Universal TV EVP Bela Bajaria had this to say of the new partnership:
“We’re always excited to usher in fresh voices to the television space, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Matt and Kelly Sue, a fantastic pair whose award-winning comics are as deeply realized as they are entertaining.”
The first project that will be produced from this deal is a television series based on Fraction and Chip Zdarsky’s ‘Sex Criminals’, the Harvey and Eisner Award-winning book from Image Comics that was named Time Magazine’s Best Comic of 2013. The story follows a young couple that finds that they can stop time whenever they climax. While the description may turn some people off, I assure you that this is one of the best comic books out there right now.
After ‘Sex Criminals’, other possible projects could include DeConnick’s supernatural western with Emma Rios ‘Pretty Deadly’, Fraction and Christian Ward’s take on Homer’s epic poem ‘ODY-C’, the dystopian feminist exploitation tale ‘Bitch Planet’ from DeConnick and Valentine De Landro, and the noir-inspired ‘Satellite Sam’ by Fraction and Howard Chaylkin. Basically anything that they’ve created themselves is fair game, so unfortunately Fraction’s acclaimed run on ‘Hawkeye’ with David Aja and DeConnick’s ‘Avengers Assemble’ (as well as their other books at Marvel or DC) are probably off limits. However, how amazing would it be if their production company worked with Marvel Studios in the future to produce a ‘Hawkeye’ limited series starring Jeremy Renner? UGH if only…
While this is DeConnick’s first major foray into television, Fraction has written episodes of ‘Archer’ and ‘Da Vinci’s Demons’ while serving as a consultant on ‘Iron Man 2’. But despite their lack of actual film and TV credits, they both certainly know how to tell one hell of a story. Just ask any member of the Carol Corps, the Brimpers, or anyone who reads comics because if at least one book from these amazing creators isn’t on your pull list, then you’re doing it wrong.
What do you think about Matt Fraction and Kelly Sue DeConnick signing with Universal TV? Are you excited about seeing a ‘Sex Criminals’ TV show? And what DeFraction-created comic book title do you hope goes into development next? Let us know in the comments below.
