'Stone' creator plans to save planet

Universal has optioned "Resurrection," an Oni Press comic book series written by "Eli Stone" co-creator Marc Guggenheim.

Universal-based Scott Stuber is producing the project along with Eric Gitter of Closed on Mondays Entertainment, the producing arm of Oni Press.

"Resurrection" begins where most other alien invasion movies end, centering on a group of survivors trying to take back control of the planet after an apocalyptic invasion.

The comic, illustrated by Dave Dumeer, was first published in October. The third issue in the series was just released.

Guggenheim will executive produce the adaptation, as will Oni Press' Peter Schwerin. Lawrence Grey is overseeing the project for the studio.

"Resurrection" is the third title set up at Universal by Portland, Ore.-based Oni, one of the big independent publishers of comic and graphic novels. The company has slowly been moving into the movie business and at Universal has set up "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," starring Michael Cera directed by Edgar Wright, and "Leading Man."

Stuber is in production on "The Wolf Man," starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins, and is in post on the romantic drama "Traveling," with Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart.

Guggenheim, who writes for several Marvel Comics titles including "Wolverine," is a writer-producer whose credits include ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" and CBS' "CSI: Miami" as well as ABC's "Stone." The scribe, repped by UTA, also is working on the big-screen version of the DC Comics hero Green Lantern with Greg Berlanti ("Everwood") and Michael Green ("Heroes"). (partialdiff)