U, Sommers in 'Proximity' on bigscreen

Helmer in 'Effect' for U

By MICHAEL FLEMING, GABRIEL SNYDER

Sommers

Universal Pictures has acquired screen rights to Top Cow-published comicbook series "Proximity Effect" and will develop a feature. Stephen Sommers and Bob Ducsay will produce via their U-based shingle the Sommers Co. Jason Rothenberg ("Surrogate") will write the script.

The comic concerns a seemingly ordinary woman who exhibits extraordinary powers, but only when she is within a certain distance of a particular guy. Sommers does not plan to direct it, but it becomes one of several properties he and Ducsay have set up since forming their company at the studio, where the helmer directed "The Mummy" pics and "Van Helsing."

Sommers Co. veep Matt Stuecken brought in the project, which marks the producer's second deal on a Top Cow comic. Sommers is writing the other, "Flash Gordon," for Universal.

"Proximity Effect" will be exec produced by the comic's creator, Roger Mincheff. U's Scott Stuber and Jeff Kirschenbaum made the deal with Top Cow CEO Marc Silvestri. The execs will steer the pic for the studio.