Netflix lines up first Millarworld project

Netflix has announced details of the first project to emerge from its acquisition of comic-book publishing house Millarworld.

Mark Millar

The Magic Order will be the first franchise created by Mark Millar, who was behind properties such as Kick-Ass and Kingsman, exclusively for Netflix.

The streaming giant acquired Millarworld, which was founded in Scotland, earlier this year, marking its first move into mergers and acquisitions.

The IP will first appear as a comic book with artist Olivier Coipel (Thor, The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man) onboard the first volume.

The series will be six issues long and the first will be released in spring 2018. It will follow five families of magicians sworn to protect the world for generations who must battle an enemy that is picking them off one by one.

“I love dark fantasy and there’s an enormous gap in the market for something like this. Netflix hiring Olivier has also made me the happiest guy alive. I’ve been after him for almost 10 years, so to finally have our names in the same book is an absolute honour,” said Millar, president and chief creative officer of Millarworld.

In related news, Netflix has ordered Coisa Mais Linda (8×60′), an original series from Brazil set in the late 1950s and early 1960s during the birth and cultural revolution of Bossa Nova in Rio de Janeiro.

The show is set to begin filming in 2018 with Prodigo Films and was created by Heather Roth and Giuliano Cedroni. It joins other Netflix originals in Brazil including 3%, O Mecanismo and Samantha!.

“Apart from being set to a vibrant time in Brazilian culture, the series tells a broader story about self-discovery, the pursuit of dreams and the emancipation of women that will be incredibly relevant to our audiences both in Brazil and globally,” said Erik Barmack, Netflix’s VP of international original content.

Meanwhile, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Toni Collette has come onboard the forthcoming coproduction between BBC1 and Netflix, Wanderlust. The 6×60′ series explores the relationships of a multi-generational family and comes from Drama Republic and BBC Worldwide.