Internet entertainment platform Netflix Inc. today announced the acquisition of Millarworld, a comic book publishing powerhouse founded by Mark Millar. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The acquisition, the first ever by Netflix, is an ongoing effort by the company to work directly with skilled creators and to acquire intellectual property and ownership of stories featuring compelling characters and timeless, interwoven fictional worlds. Millar created iconic characters and stories such as as Kick-Ass, Kingsman, and Old Man Logan.
The acquisition will bring Millarworld’s portfolio of critically and fan-acclaimed character franchises to life through films, series and kids’ shows available exclusively to Netflix members globally. Millarworld will also continue to create and publish new stories and character franchises under the Netflix label.
Millar, who runs Millarworld with his wife Lucy Millar, is one of the most consistent hitmakers in the graphic novel and comics world. In his eight years at Marvel, he developed the comic books and story arcs that inspired the first Avengers movie, Captain America: Civil War, and Logan (Wolverine), which collectively grossed over $3 billion in worldwide box office.
Since Millarworld was started, the company and its co-creators have given birth to eighteen published character worlds, of which three, Wanted, Kick-Ass and Kingsman, have yielded theatrical films that together have grossed nearly $1 billion in global box office.
With 104 million members, Netflix is the leading Internet entertainment platform in over 190 countries where users enjoy more than 125 million hours of TV shows and movies per day, including original series, documentaries and feature films. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any internet-connected screen. Users can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
