Frank Miller To Adapt Live-Action Series Of Hugo Pratt’s Corto Maltese

Comic book writer/artist Frank Miller is developing a live-action television adaptation of Hugo Pratt’s seafaring graphic novel series, Corto Maltese.

Frank Miller is adapting the Corto Maltese comics into a live-action television series. Created by the Italian comic book writer and illustrator Hugo Pratt in 1967, Corto Maltese is a series of adventure and fantasy comics that follow the titular sailor during the early part of the 20th century. During his lavish adventures, the enigmatic sea captain frequently crosses paths with real historical figures, including Jack London, Butch Cassidy, and Ernest Hemingway. Corto Maltese, which is widely regarded as one of the most artistic and literary graphic novels ever written, has been adapted into several animated films, but never into live-action.

Now, Deadline reports that Miller is developing a live-action series adaptation of Corto Maltese. Backed by Studiocanal in conjunction with Canal+, Miller will serve as creator, writer, and executive producer for six hour-long episodes. Overseeing visual effects for the limited series is Star Wars and Jurassic Park‘s Phil Tippet. Check out Miller’s comments on the original comics below:

“I first discovered Corto Maltese reading the books at Forbidden Planet in New York as a young man. Then on my travels, I studied and discovered an edition at a newsstand in Rome. The artwork was so expressive and so bold that it leapt off the newsprint. It swept me away. It was full of magic and romantic adventure. Maltese is a rascal who could talk to the gods. To me it showed off the power of the comic where language is not much of a barrier. I have been a Corto Maltese fan ever since. This is the hero’s journey in its most classic form, and I couldn’t be more honored to help bring into this series the romanticism, heroism, and underlying mysticism of Pratt’s creation.”

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Miller’s History Of Comic Book Adaptations

Miller is one of the most famous comic book writers alive whose work has been adapted to the screen several times with varying degrees of his involvement. Miller co-directed Sin City and Sin City and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For with Robert Rodriguez. His comic series, 300, was adapted into a feature film by director Zack Snyder on which Miller served as an executive producer. Miller’s comics, The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One, have heavily influenced Batman movies by directors Christopher Nolan, Matt Reeves, and Snyder.

In addition to writing and directing his own, Miller has also helmed an adaptation of another author’s comic series in the past. In 2008, Miller wrote and directed the feature film adaptation of Will Eisner’s newspaper comic strip The Spirit, which follows a ghost-like superhero fighting crime in Central City and was released to negative reviews and was a commercial failure. Now, Miller’s upcoming Corto Maltese series will be the second time the legendary comic book writer has spearheaded an adaptation of another author’s work for the screen, and hopefully, the results will be a bit better.

DCU fans should recognize the name Corto Maltese as the name of the South American island nation which recently served as the setting of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. The fictional island was originally created by Millar for The Dark Knight Returns and named after the fictional adventurer. Now, Frank Millar is adapting the actual Corto Maltese comic series to the screen, which has been a massive influence on him as a writer. By accounts, the comic’s magical and romantic adventures should translate well to the screen in live-action.

More: The Suicide Squad: Corto Maltese Is A Batman 1989 Deep Cut

Source: Deadline