HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Sony Pictures Entertainment has won out in a bidding war to develop a live-action “Flash Gordon” movie, Variety reports.
The comic strip was created in 1934 by Alex Raymond, who aimed to compete against an already-established adventure strip, Buck Rogers.
The franchise was first adapted to the screen in three serials featuring Buster Crabbe, the first of which was released in 1936.
It was also turned into a 1980 film starring Sam Jones, a project remembered more for a soundtrack that featured British rock band Queen.
“Flash” has also made several small screen appearances, most recently as a Sci-Fi Channel series starring Eric Johnson.
The comic strip follows the adventures of a handsome polo player and his companions, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov. The story begins with Earth bombarded by fiery meteors. Dr. Zarkov believes the meteors are from outer space, so he invents a rocket ship to locate their place of origin. Half mad, he kidnaps Flash and Dale, and the three travel to the planet Mongo. Upon their arrival, they discover that the meteors are weapons devised by Ming the Merciless, the evil ruler of Mongo, and they meet strange inhabitants such as the Hawkmen and the Sharkmen.
Breck Eisner, the son of former Walt Disney chairman Michael Eisner, has been tapped to direct the latest film installment.
