New Line, Marvel pumping 'Iron'
Scribes Gough, Millar to adapt 2005 summer tentpole
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Adapting the comic are Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, creators of the WB's top-rated "Smallville" and writers of current hit film "Shanghai Knights" and its predecessor, "Shanghai Noon."
Gough and Millar, repped by the William Morris Agency, first worked with Marvel on the script for Columbia Pictures' "Spider-Man" sequel, "The Amazing Spider-Man."
New Line is hoping to turn "Iron Man" into a tentpole for its 2005 slate. New Line acquired the property in 2000, but with Gough and Millar the studio has started from scratch.
Espionage experience
"Iron Man," which first appeared as a Marvel comic in 1962, is the story of Tony Stark, inventor and owner of Stark Enterprises. His work in corporate espionage and international terrorism leads to an accident that forces him to go on life support in the form of a high-tech bodysuit. This also gives him an alternate identity, Iron Man, a being capable of a heroism Tony Stark could not achieve.
Arad and Murphy will produce the film. Overseeing for New Line are senior VP of production Stokely Chaffin and VP of development and production Renee Witt.
New Line previously worked with Marvel on the adaptation of "Blade," which has spawned two successful features. A third is in development.
The latest Marvel property to become an action pic is "Daredevil," which 20th Century Fox releases Friday. Other Marvel characters that have been treated to feature adaptations include Fox's "X-Men" and its sequel, "X2," which is set for a May release. Likewise, U will release "The Hulk" in June.
Marvel also is prepping adaptations of "Fantastic Four" at Fox, "Man-Thing" and "The Punisher" at Artisan Entertainment and "Ghost Rider" at Dimension Films.
'Global franchise'
"We want to continue to have tentpole global hits," New Line production president Toby Emmerich told Daily Variety. "That's not our main business, but our distribution partners have proved that we can take a franchise movie across the goal line. I think this can be one of those global franchises."
Arad added: "New Line Cinema has already proven its masterful interpretation of fantasy material by turning 'Blade' into a multipicture Marvel franchise and, of course, with 'Lord of the Rings.' We are confident that they will do another amazing job with one of our most popular characters, Iron Man."
