Universal pacts with comic book firm Dark Horse

By Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Universal Pictures is now the new stable for Dark Horse Entertainment, one of the biggest independent comic book companies.

A three-year production and distribution agreement gives Universal access to all Dark Horse characters and properties as well as any material that Dark Horse might acquire on its own and want to develop as a motion picture.

Many Dark Horse comics already have been adapted for the screen, including "The Mask" from New Line and "Barb Wire" from PolyGram. Universal adapted "Timecop" in 1994 and "Mystery Men" in 1999 and is behind the latest Dark Horse comic movie, this summer's "Hellboy II: The Golden Army." (Sony-based Revolution made the first one in 2004.)

Portland, Ore.-based Dark Horse already is preparing several projects to take into Universal.

"We have a number of projects that we've had early discussions about, and I have definite ideas of the films I want to introduce into the deal and start working on," said Dark Horse president Mike Richardson. "We'll sit down and talk and see which one they agree with me on."

Universal, through the deal, basically gets its own R&D department.

"To be able to have one place where you've got guys who are really embracing ideas is an incredible opportunity for a studio" said Universal co-chairman David Linde. "We as a studio can't possibly do ourselves what Dark Horse is doing every day."

The partnership makes Universal the third studio to have guaranteed access to the deep well of comic book properties and stories, one of the biggest sources for movie material. Warner Bros. owns DC Comics, the home of Batman and Superman. Paramount has teamed with Marvel, the home of Spider-Man and the X-Men, for projects the comics firm hasn't licensed elsewhere.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter