Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with some good news for comic fans. Harry has gone on and on to me about Steve Niles' 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, a series about vampires in Alaska and being the cheap and lazy bastard I am, I still haven't picked it up yet. I'll be at Comic-Con next week, so perhaps I'll be able to find a TPB there... you know, maybe someone might be selling comic books there... hehe
Anyway, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Lions Gate has signed a deal with Niles and his producing partner Thomas Jane that gives Lions Gate the rights to some of Niles' stories (including THE LURKERS) and a first look deal for any property Niles and Jane find or create. Not bad. I'm not well versed in Niles' work, but what I have seen is very fresh and I'm sure will make a welcome addition to the genre. What do you folks think?
Lions Gate Films announced Thursday an overall deal with comic book author Steve Niles. Peter Block, president of acquisitions and co-productions, and Michael Paseornek, president of Lions Gate Films production, said the company has acquired worldwide rights to several books in Niles' catalog in addition to establishing a first-look deal on all film projects by or found by Niles and actor Thomas Jane ("The Punisher"). The deal includes Niles' titles "The Lurkers," "The Dark Country," which has been adapted into a screenplay by Tab Murphy ("Tarzan"), "In the Blood" and a new project to be named at next week's Comic-Con International in San Diego. Jane intends to take leading or supporting roles in each of the films, and he and Niles will serve as producers with Lions Gate. Block, Paseornek, senior vp acquisitions Jason Constantine and director of development Alex Franklin will oversee production for the studio.
