Scots comic guru signs a kick-ass deal with Netflix
Millar tells of joy as his creations are bought by US giants
SCOTS comic book genius Mark Millar was in dreamland last night after Netflix snapped up his company.
The US entertainment and streaming giants swooped for Millarworld in a megabucks deal.
And Millar – who created characters and stories such as Kick-Ass, Wanted, Kingsman and Old Man Logan – revealed a hefty chunk of the money from the deal will go towards revitalising his old home town of Coatbridge.
The 47-year-old set up Millarworld in Glasgow in the early 2000s, having previously worked at Marvel.
He runs the firm with his wife Lucy and their portfolio includes Jupiter’s Legacy, MPH, Chrononauts, Reborn, Huck, Starlight, Superior, Nemesis, War Heroes, Supercrooks and American Jesus.
In a statement, Millar said: “Warner Bros bought DC Comics in 1968. Disney bought Marvel in 2009. Today Netflix purchased Millarworld and I’m still blinking. This is only the third time in history a comic book company purchase on this scale has ever happened.
“I started Millarworld as a creator-owned comic book company nearly 15 years ago, after talking some artist pals into being their own bosses.
“We’d all had success at DC and Marvel but this was a chance to control the characters created and reap the rewards from any future movies, TV or merchandise that ever came from those characters and books.
“Over the years, Millarworld has amassed 20 different franchises working with the world’s greatest artists, and now Millarworld has been bought by the hottest, most exciting entertainment company on the planet.
“To say this is the best thing that ever happened in our professional lives would be an understatement.”
Netflix said they will stream films, series and children’s shows based on Millarworld characters, and the comics brand will continue to create and publish new stories and character franchises under their label.
Kick-Ass and Kingsman have separate Hollywood agreements and aren’t a part of this deal, the terms of which were not disclosed.
Disney paid £2.5billion for Marvel in 2009.
Millar added: “The moment Lucy and I walked into Netflix’s headquarters in California last Christmas, we knew this was where we wanted to be.
“I’m so in love with what Netflix is doing and excited by their plans. Netflix is the future, and Millarworld couldn’t have a better home. This is going to be brilliant.”
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said: “As creator and re-inventor of some of the most memorable stories and characters in recent history, ranging from Marvel’s The Avengers to Millarworld’s Kick-Ass, Kingsman, Wanted and Reborn franchises, Mark is as close as you can get to a modern day Stan Lee.
“We can’t wait to harness the creative power of Millarworld to Netflix and start a new era in global storytelling.”
Millar – who began writing as a teen after his parents died and he was struggling to earn a living – also revealed the regeneration plan for Coatbridge. He said: “This is a five-year charity building project I’ve been quietly making plans for with local government behind the scenes and we can’t wait to go public with the idea.
“I’ve had an enormous amount of luck in my life – none more than today – and I look forward to explaining how I’m planning to use what this deal brings us to help improve an area I grew up in and owe everything to.”
I am so in love with what Netflix are doing and excited by their plans MARK MILLAR