This is going to be good!
Warner Bros. has acquired the “Black” series about a universe where only Black people have superpowers, Deadline reports.
“Black” is an adaptation of the “Black Mask” comic series from creators Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3. Osajyefo originally came up with the universe concept more than a decade ago, garnering mass appeal after a Kickstarter campaign raised over $90,000. Since then, “Black” has released an entire universe of comics and books featuring original artists and writers like Jamal Igle, Khary Randolph, Jennifer Johnson, Vita Ayala, and Liana Kangas.
Bryan Edward Hill (DC’s Titans) wrote the script for “Black,” centering on a lone young man who survives a horrific event and comes to the realization that he is a part of a larger group of gifted people. The team of extraordinary individuals team up to fight against a clandestine association that seeks to control and possess them. The man finds himself in the middle of a war for control of humankind.
Studio 8’s Jeff Robinov, Guy Danella, and John Graham have come on as producers alongside Black Mask Studio’s Matteo Pizzolo, Brett Gurewitz, Osajyefo and Smith 3. The team has yet to attach a director to the project. Robinov said the ‘Black’ series helps mark a new era in the industry.
“We became involved in the development of this story over a year ago. ‘Black’ represents a new generation of storytellers and creators who can accurately tell Black stories with the type of care the industry has lacked for decades,” Robinov said. “The thought-provoking concept caught our attention early on, and we’re proud to play a role in bringing this story to the screen.”
Osajyefo said he hopes the series can convey a more accurate representation of Black people in the media.
“Part of the inspiration for ‘Black’ came from my experiencing the lack of representation in comics publishing and how that directly relates to the scarceness of Black characters. For most comics’ history, white outcasts have been used as allegories for marginalized groups while claiming to reflect the world outside our window,” Osajyefo said. “‘Black’ strips away this veneer to juxtapose superpowers with race while allowing Black people to see ourselves authentically in media and inviting wider audiences into parts of our experience. We’re excited to bring this story to everyone through film and thankful to Studio 8 for believing in it.”
No word yet on when “Black” will be coming to the big screen, but we’ll be on the lookout.
Congratulations!
Photo Courtesy of Deadline