David Farnor | On 07, Aug 2017

Netlix and Mark Millar are joining forces to bring his comic book creations to the world.

The streaming giant has acquired Millarworld, the comic book publishing powerhouse founded by the man behind Kick-Ass and Kingsman, labelling him “one of the most important voices in comics”.

Together, Netflix and Millar will bring Millarworld’s portfolio of franchises to life through films, series and kids’ shows available exclusively to Netflix members globally. Millarworld will also continue to create and publish new stories and character franchises under the Netflix label.

Terms of the transaction weren’t disclosed, but the acquisition, the first ever by Netflix, continues the streaming service’s efforts to work directly with prolific creators and acquire intellectual property and ownership of stories it can then distribute itself worldwide.

“As creator and re-inventor of some of the most memorable stories and characters in recent history, ranging from Marvel’s The Avengers to Millarworld’s Kick-Ass, Kingsman, Wanted and Reborn franchises, Mark is as close as you can get to a modern day Stan Lee,” says Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “We can’t wait to harness the creative power of Millarworld to Netflix and start a new era in global storytelling.”

“This is only the third time in history a major comic book company has been purchased at this level,” comments 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.”

Millar runs Millarworld with his wife Lucy Millar and has established himself as a big player in the graphic novel world. In his eight years at Marvel, he developed the issues and story arcs that inspired the first Avengers movie, Captain America: Civil War, and Logan (Wolverine), which collectively grossed over $3 billion in worldwide box office. Since Millarworld was started, the company and its co-creators have given birth to 18 published character worlds, of which three, Wanted, Kick-Ass and Kingsman, have yielded theatrical films that together have grossed nearly $1 billion in global box office. In short, you can see the appeal to Netflix.

“Mark has created a next-generation comics universe, full of indelible characters living in situations people around the world can identify easily with,” adds Sarandos. “We look forward to creating new Netflix Originals from several existing franchises as well as new superhero, anti-hero, fantasy, sci-fi and horror stories Mark and his team will continue to create and publish.”

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