Comic Book Biz

Posted: Wed., Jul. 12, 2006, 9:00pm PT

Virgin Comics woos Woo

Helmer, Change create comic

'Seven Brothers'

Virgin Comics' 'Seven Brothers' series is set to debut in October.

John Woo

Woo

Terence Chang

Chang

Newly formed Virgin Comics has struck a deal with John Woo and Terence Chang's Tiger Hill Entertainment and comicbook scribe Garth Ennis to create "Seven Brothers."

The new comic series -- set to debut in October -- centers on the story of seven siblings who depart on Chinese explorer ships and settle on seven different continents. Five hundred years later, their descendants must unite to thwart an evil that is threatening the world. The descendants are an unlikely pairing after having mixed their Chinese bloodline many times over.

Ennis, whose work includes the titles "Punisher" and "Preacher," will pen the story with Yoshitaka Amano painting original cover art for each of the "Seven Brothers" comics. Artist Greg Horn will provide a cover for the premiere issue.

Project is part of Virgin Comics Director's Cut line, set up as collaboration with name filmmakers. "Seven Brothers" is the first installment of the line with other directors' projects expected to be announced in the coming months.

"We see this franchise as a great way for filmmakers to flesh out their ideas and it helps set up a great template to continue developing the projects for film or other mediums," Virgin's co-founder and COO Gotham Chopra told Daily Variety. "And starting with John Woo and Terence Chang, we have paved the road with gold so far."

Said Woo: "For me, working in comics is quite comfortable -- it's like the ultimate storyboard."

Virgin Comics was founded in November by Richard Branson and Virgin Enterprises alongside author Deepak Chopra, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and Gotham Entertainment Group. Operations are managed by Gotham Chopra and Gotham Entertainment topper Sharad Devarajan, who serves as CEO.

Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

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