Graphic India and Disney Channel India have announced a partnership with Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan for upcoming superhero series Astra Force. The 52-episode animated series is slated to air on Disney Channel India in 2017.
Graphic India, a comic book and animation company that creates mythological and superhero characters for the Indian youth market, is owned by U.S. comic book company Liquid Comics and CA Media LP, the Asia investment arm of Peter Chernin‘s The Chernin Group.
“In the same way animation from other markets has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide, it’s now India’s time to create new heroes and animated shows to spark the imaginations of children all across the world,” Bachchan said in a statement.
As one of India’s most successful actors, with a career spanning four decades, Bachchan has also hosted the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. He made his Hollywood debut in Baz Luhrmann‘s The Great Gatsby.
Astra Force, which tells the story of a mythical hero stranded on Earth millions of years ago after an epic space battle, will be produced by Graphic India co-founder and CEO Sharad Devarajan, along with Graphic India senior vp creative Jeevan J Kang.
The company’s previous credits include comic legend Stan Lee‘s first Indian superhero character Chakra, The Invincible. The property is also being developed as Lee’s first Bollywood live-action feature.
Graphic India projects licensed for Hollywood theatrical deals include Ramayan 3392AD, in development with Mandalay Pictures; The Sadhu, which is in development with producer Mark Canton (300 films); The Leaves, in development at Lionsgate; and Titans, in development with J. Michael Straczynski (screenwriter on Thor, World War Z) and Chernin Entertainment (Planet of the Apes franchise).
