20th Century Fox Inks Deal with Comics Guru Mark Millar

20th Century Fox has inked a deal with comics-world guru Mark Millar to serve as a creative consultant on the studio’s projects based on Marvel Comics properties.

Millar wrote several lauded Marvel comic books such as The Ultimates, Civil War and Wolverine: Old Man Logan before moving on to found Millarworld (millarworld.tv), where he continues to develop existing film franchise titles Wanted and Kick-Ass as well as newer comic properties Nemesis -- which was being developed at Fox as a Tony Scott directing vehicle -- The Secret Service and Superior.

“In addition to his groundbreaking Marvel work, Mark is simply one of the most original voices in comics today and will be an invaluable resource to us and to our filmmakers as we look for fresh opportunities to innovate within our shared Marvel universe," Fox production president Emma Watts said.

Millar will work with Fox on developing new avenues for its tentpole X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises.

The studio's upcoming Marvel properties include The Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman and directed by James Mangold; X-Men: Days of Future Past, helmed by Matthew Vaughn; and a reboot of Fantastic Four, to be directed by Josh Trank (Chronicle).

"I really like the Fox team, love this bold new direction they have for their franchises and am proud to be working alongside some of modern cinema's biggest talents," Millar said. "James Mangold is incredible, Matthew Vaughn's one of my closest pals, and Josh Trank gave us, in my opinion, one of the greatest superhero movies of the last decade with Chronicle. The invitation to join this crew was maybe the coolest phone call I've ever had.”

Millar is the writer of Civil War, Marvel's biggest-selling series of the past 15 years, as well as Ultimate X-Men, Wolverine: Old Man Logan, Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four and The Ultimates. His Millarworld line of comics boasts a roster of creator-owned titles such as Wanted, turned into the 2008 Angelina Jolie starrer, and Kick-Ass, whose sequel is filming in London and Toronto. Universal also is developing his War Heroes series with Michael De Luca producing. The Secret Service, co-created with Watchmen's Dave Gibbons and Vaughn, also is in development.

The U.K. native also is the editor of CLiNT magazine, an adviser on film to the Scottish government and managing director of his film and television company Millarworld Prods.

“As someone who has spent his entire life obsessed with both comic books and movies, this is essentially my dream gig as it's a unique combination of both,” Millar added. “I spent 10 years working at Marvel and am really happy with the work I did on the comic side of things, so the idea of working with these characters now in a brand new medium is enormously exciting for me."