Netflix reveals first Millarworld projects

Netflix has announced the first series and films to be adapted from the work of Mark Millar following its acquisition of the comic book writer’s Millarworld company last year.

Steven S DeKnight

The shows will include Jupiter’s Legacy, a multi-generational American superhero epic that follows the children of a lauded group of superheroes who are struggling to live up to the feats of their parents.

Steven S DeKnight (Marvel’s Daredevil), who recently signed a multi-year deal with Netflix, will serve as showrunner and exec producer. Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Dan McDermott will also exec produce.

Netflix has also commissioned Spanish- and English-language series American Jesus, focusing on a young boy who suddenly discovers he is the second coming of Jesus Christ. Everardo Gout (Marvel’s Luke Cage, Sacred Lies) and Leopoldo Gout (Molly’s Game, Instinct) will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers on the series.

Additionally, the streamer has announced three feature films from Millarworld. Empress follows the adventures of a queen who escapes her dictator husband with her children and goes into hiding in the galaxy to avoid his army.

Huck involves a man who uses his special powers to do good in a quiet seaside town, with his neighbours keeping his abilities secret in return. When a newcomer alerts the authorities, Huck is thrust into an adventure that alters his life dramatically.

Finally, sci-fi title Sharkey the Bounty Hunter follows a blue-collar bounty hunter tracking criminals across a fictional galaxy in a converted ice-cream truck.

Millar and his wife Linda have been developing projects since Netflix acquired his comic book publishing house Millarworld last August.

“Lucy and I are 11 months into our jobs at Netflix and it’s everything we hoped for. To see a movie based on your work every couple of years is incredibly exciting, but to see them all happening at once like this and with talent this high-end is just off the scale,” said Millar.

The multi-project announcement is a welcome positive for the streamer after its share price dropped upon news it had missed its subscriber target for Q2 on Monday. Having dipped to just under US$344 in after-hours trading, Netflix stock rose through to around US$380 at the end of Tuesday, still 21 points lower than its Monday closing level of US$400.