HOLLYWOOD, CA — Netflix announced Monday it is acquiring Millarworld, the comic book publisher founded by Mark Millar, creator of such characters and stories as Kick-Ass, Kingsman and Old Man Logan.
Through the deal, Netflix will bring Millarworld’s portfolio of comic book character 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. The exact terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Netflix said in a press release that the acquisition, a first for the company, is a natural progression in Netflix’s effort to work directly with prolific and skilled creators and to acquire intellectual property and ownership of stories featuring compelling characters and interwoven fictional worlds.
“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,” Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said in the press release. “We can’t wait to harness the creative power of Millarworld to Netflix and start a new era in global storytelling.”
Millar was quoted in the press release as saying: “This is only the third time in history a major comic book company has been purchased at this level. 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.”
Run by Millar and his wife, Lucy, Millarworld 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 returns. Millar has also worked for eight years at Marvel Comics, developing the comic books and story arcs that inspired the first Avengers movie, Captain America: Civil War, and Logan (featuring an aged Wolverine and based on Millar’s Old Man Logan story). Collectively, these movies have grossed more than $3 billion in worldwide box office.
“Mark has created a next-generation comics universe, full of indelible characters living in situations people around the world can identify easily with,” Sarandos added. “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.”
