20th Century Fox has optioned the Image comic book mini-series ‘Starlight’ for a feature film, and word is that the company is circling Sylvester Stallone to play the lead role in the film, that of an aging intergalactic hero who is called upon to save the universe one more time.
Created by long-time comic vet Mark Millar, ‘Starlight’ was a six-issue miniseries that first came out in 2014. The series was written by Millar, with artwork done by Goran Parlov. Image describes the comic thusly:
Forty years ago, Duke McQueen was the space hero who saved the universe. But then he came back home, got married, had kids, and grew old. Now his children have left and his wife has died, leaving him alone with nothing except his memories…until a call comes from a distant world asking him back for his final and greatest adventure.
I own the collected edition, and it’s a fabulous comic. Very much a loving ode to classic sci-fi series like ‘Flash Gordon’ and ‘Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,’ the central conceit of ‘Starlight’ is that Duke McQueen was indeed whisked away to the stars to help save an alien race… but was then returned to Earth, where not many people really believed his story. It’s tremendously entertaining, and could hopefully be very effectively translated to the big screen.
No official word on casting or a release date from Fox as of yet, but we will certainly keep you posted!
Tony Schaab loves Star Wars… ♫ something with Staaar Waaars, give me those Staaar Waaars, don’t let them eeeennnddd… ♫ A lover of most things sci-fi and horror, Tony is an author by day and a DJ by night. Come hang out with Tony on Twitter to hear him spew semi-funny nonsense and get your opportunity to finally put him in his place.
