LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — Streaming video giant Netflix announced that it has acquired Millarworld, an influential indie comics publisher founded by Mark Millar in a bid to bolster their original programming offerings.
Millarworld, like Marvel, has been fertile ground for film projects in recent years, with three of its titles — Wanted, Kick Ass and The Kingsman — making the jump to the big screen in recent years. Millarworld's IP runs deep as well and the publisher and its co-creators have given birth to eighteen published character worlds, and Millarworld will continue to develop and publish new content under the Netflix label, the companies said.
Millar is also one of the creative forces behind some of Disney/Marvel's big screen successes, and while with the comics publisher, developed the story arcs behind the first Avengers movie, as well as Captain America: Civil War, and most recently, Logan.
The acquisition, the first ever by Netflix, and follows the announcement last month that Netflix generated more than $2.785 billion in revenue in the second quarter, along with $66 million in net income, an increase of almost 50 percent from the same period last year. However, the financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
“This is only the third time in history a major comic book company has been purchased at this level,” said Millar. “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.”
“Mark has created a next-generation comics universe, full of indelible characters living in situations people around the world can identify easily with,” added Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “We look forward to creating new Netflix Originals from several existing franchises as well as new super-hero, anti-hero, fantasy, sci-fi and horror stories Mark and his team will continue to create and publish.”
