Sub-Mariner coming to the big screen

Chris Columbus has charted a course to direct and produce "Sub-Mariner," an adaptation of one of Marvel Comics' oldest superheroes, for Universal Pictures.

The film is being produced by Marvel Studios' Avi Arad, Kevin Misher and his Misher Films banner along with Columbus and his 1492 Prods.

The Sub-Mariner's other identity is that of Prince Namor, a half-man/half-amphibian creature from the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. He is known for his temper and rebellious nature and sometimes finds himself helping the human race and sometimes fighting against it when humans have polluted the waters.

The Sub-Mariner first appeared in "Marvel Comics" #1 back in 1939 when Marvel Comics was known as Timely Comics. He made his first modern appearance in the pages of "Fantastic Four" in the early 1960s.

David Self wrote the screenplay for what is intended as an epic film that will highlight various cultures, species and worlds beneath Earth's oceans. At the same time, it will tell the tale of Namor, a man who is torn between the world he grew up in and the world he belongs to.

"This is a giant project," Arad said. "Chris and I have been talking about this for six years, and once he saw where we were going with it and the world we were going to create, he jumped in."

Said Misher in a statement, "One of Marvel's original characters, the Sub-Mariner provides the opportunity to take the audience to the last unexplored region of Earth: the bottom of the ocean."

There has been a flurry of activity in comic book movies in the past week and a half. Earlier this week, it was announced that Nick Cassavetes would direct New Line Cinema's adaptation of Marvel Comics hero Iron Man (HR 11/30), and last week Paul Greengrass stepped in to helm the seminal comic "The Watchmen," which is set up at Paramount Pictures.

"Sub-Mariner" will be overseen at Universal by Mary Parent, the studio's vice chairman worldwide production, and Damien Saccani, vp production. At Marvel the movie will be overseen by Kevin Feige and Ari Arad.

Columbus will segue to the movie after completing "Rent," which is prepping to shoot at Revolution Studios. He last directed the first two installments of the "Harry Potter" movies. Columbus is repped by CAA.


Thanks to www.thehollywoodreporter.com for the story