Umbrella Academy Optioned by Universal

Frontman for My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way has been working with Dark Horse Comics and has had a successfull run of his hit comic the "Umbrella Academy." It seems that fans of the comic are not the only one's to have taken note on his work. Way tells IESB that Universal has in fact optioned the comics to be developed into a feature film. Way added that he had just recently finished his first sit down with the studio regarding the adaptation of his work.

Gerard Way has a few notes of interest concerning the development of Umbrella Academy. Universal is currently looking for screenwriters to adapt the comics for film. Universal had suggested that perhaps screenwriter Diablo Cody would be available, but Way did not say if that would be finalized. Way made it clear that his top choice for the films director would be Alfsono Cuarón. Wouldn't the director of Children of Men and Y tu mamá también be on the top of your list too? Cuarón's version on Harry Potter is still my favorite as well, so we know he can do fantasy. Way did also say that he is open to plenty of other directors. Let's just hope that doesn't mean Paul W.S. Anderson! Way added that he would only like to be involved creatively in the production but overall wants a director he can trust their vision completely. Lastly, Gerard Way told IESB that he had contacted costume designer Colleen Atwood about coming on board to work on the film. Atwood has been Tim Burton's exclusive costume designer since Edward Scissorhands and had other hits with films like Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.

If you are unaware of the story it goes as follows; members of the Umbrella Academy, a disbanded group of superheroes. They reunite after the death of their adoptive father, Sir Reginald Hargreeves. Hargreeves is an alien disguised as a famous entrepreneur who collected the members of the Umbrella Academy shortly after their births and trained them to save the world from an unspecified threat. After his tramadic death, the members carry on his plan to save the world.

Have you read Way's Umbrella Academy? It is a great book that I really look forward to continue reading. This is a really good pick-up for Universal if developed correctly.