Getting Graphic

Films based on comic books have been making news all week, and today, the trend continues... Variety has details on 3 different genre projects in the making



>>>Columbia, Moritz call on 'The Boys'

Columbia Pictures has acquired the rights to indie comic book "The Boys" and will develop a feature adaptation along with producer Neal H. Moritz and his...Original Film banner.

Comic book series follows a special forces CIA squad...

>>>WB takes franchise turn with 'Akira'



Warner Bros. will turn anime artist Katsuhiro Ôtomo's six-volume graphic novel "Akira" into two live-action feature films, the first of which is being fast tracked for release in summer 2009. Legendary Pictures will co-finance with WB.

Graphic novel was first adapted for the big screen in 1988 as a popular animated film which Otomo directed.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, Appian Way Productions is involved.

The original story was set in ''New Tokyo'' in 2019, after a nuclear war. A teen biker gang member is subjected to a government experiment that taps latent powers, and the gang leader is forced to try and stop the destruction that lies in his wake. The new adaptation will be set in ''New Manhattan,'' a city rebuilt by Japanese money.

Ruairí Robinson is set to make his feature directorial debut on what is expected to be a two-part epic. Gary Whitta is adapting the screenplay. The first film is tentatively scheduled for a summer 2009release.

>>>David Fincher falls into 'Black Hole'

David Fincher is attached to direct "Black Hole" for Paramount Pictures and MTV Films.

Plan B Productions® and producer Kevin Messick are developing the project that's based on Charles Burns' graphic novel. Burns wrote and illustrated the 12-issue series that became the graphic novel over a 10-year period.

Story kicks off when a sexually transmitted "bug" is passed from teenager to teenager.

Roger Avary and Neil Gaiman were tapped to adapt the screenplay in March 2006...

Given that anime has never been my cup of tea, to be honest my only reaction to the Akira news is "meh" Still there's no denying its worldwide popularity--I'm surprised its live action leap took so long to happen...

As for "Hole" it's a great read and I'm super excited that Fincher is taking the project on. I can't wait!

I had never even heard of "The Boys" before today...I'll either read it or wait to see some footage before forming an opinion.