Darkwoods gets Sternn

Creator Wrightson has worked on 'Batman,' 'Punisher' comix

By DANA HARRIS

Darabont

Frank Darabont's Darkwoods Prods. has optioned comicbook character Capt. Sternn, an interstellar con man who bowed in the pages of Heavy Metal magazine and then in Columbia Pictures' 1981 feature "Heavy Metal."

Darkwoods will develop the property as the basis for a CG animated feature, animated TV series, comicbooks and videogames in association with Bernie Wrightson's Himani Original Prods.

In addition to creator Wrightson, writer David J. Schow ("The Crow") and Himani president-founder Kevin Kutchaver ("Hercules") will contribute to the project.

Wrightson has worked on comic properties such as "Swamp Thing," "Batman" and "The Punisher." He also contributed to the conceptual art for "Ghostbusters," "Galaxy Quest" and "Spider-Man."

Darabont most recently wrote "Collateral," in which Tom Cruise is starring for DreamWorks.

Himani's f/x division most recently contributed shots to "X2" and "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."