Sony has picked up rights to The Harlem Hellfighters, Max Brooks' upcoming graphic novel based on the true story of an African American WWI Army infantry unit.

Caleeb Pinkett and James Lassiter will produce for Overbrook Entertainment.

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Hitting stores on April 1 via Broadway Books, The Harlem Hellfighters is based on the Army's 369th infantry division, an African American unit fighting in Europe during World War I. Breaking down racial barriers, the unit spent more time in combat than any other American unit, never losing a foot of ground to the enemy, or a man to capture, and went on to win countless decorations.

Though they returned to the U.S. as heroes, the unit faced tremendous discrimination, even from their own government. The story chronicles their journey from the enlistment lines in Harlem to the training camp at Spartanburg, South Carolina, to the trenches in France.

The graphic novel was illustrated by Caanan White. Brooks will also adapt the script.

Brooks, the son of Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft, wrote the book World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, which was adapted for Paramount's Brad Pitt-starring film that grossed $202 million domestically and $540 million worldwide. A sequel is currently in development. 

Author of The Zombie Survival Guide and its graphic companion The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks, Brooks' latest comic series is The Extinction Parade. He's repped by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Ed Victor Ltd. in the UK.

E-mail: Rebecca.Ford@THR.com
Twitter: @Beccamford