Sony Pictures Entertainment announced today that it acquired the feature film rights to Descender, the forthcoming comic book series from New York Times bestselling author Jeff Lemire and New York Times bestselling comic artist Dustin Nguyen.
A sprawling, science-fiction space opera full of mystery and adventure, Descender‘s first issue will be published by Image Comics on March 4th and promises a rip-roaring, heart-felt cosmic odyssey about a little boy looking for home in a universe that hates and fears him. The incredibly lifelike artificial boy, TIM-21, may hold the secrets deep in his machine DNA to the origin of robots that have decimated entire planets. As a result, he is the most-wanted robot in the universe. Before long the entire galaxy is looking for TIM-21 and his rag-tag group of unlikely companions, as they make their way from one exotic planet to the next with new foes advancing on them at every turn.
“It was a competitive situation for Descender, and we are thrilled that it ended with Sony Pictures acquiring the series,” said Lemire and Nguyen. “We know that their film translation will do justice to the original comics, and we are thrilled with their belief in the franchise potential.”
Lemire is best known for his original creations, “Sweet Tooth,” “Essex County,” “The Underwater Welder” and “Trillum.” Nguyen, meanwhile, is renowned for his work on “American Vampire” along with numerous “Batman” titles including “Batman Eternal,” “Batman: Streets of Gotham,” “Detective Comics,” and, most recently, “Batman: Li’l Gotham.”
Josh Bratman will produce the film with Lemire and Nguyen attached to executive produce. Michael De Luca and Rachel O’Connor, meanwhile, will oversee the project for the studio.
