Paramount to Produce Movie on Obscure Comics Character Devilina

Paramount Pictures is developing a feature film adaptation of Devilina, based on the Atlas Comics character from producer Steven Paul. Blacklist writer Rebecca Webb (Echo) will pen the screenplay. The film will be produced by Paul, SP Media Group’s Scott Karol, and Jason Goodman. Goodman is the grandson of Martin Goodman, the Marvel Comics co-founder. Atlas boasts a diverse array of characters across numerous genres.

This move comes five years after Paul, who previously produced the Ghost Rider movies for Sony and Marvel, acquired the rights to the Atlas portfolio. His intention is to create a shared universe based on Devilina and other Atlas characters. Shortly after the purchase, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Hollywood, delaying the start of the Atlas universe.

“From the beginning, Atlas Comics’ expansive library of characters and stories was crafted as an interconnected universe. Devilina serves as the introduction, and we are dedicated to honoring this foundational vision of Atlas, ensuring that audiences can fully immerse themselves in these dynamic characters and narratives,” states Paul.

“Dating back to the golden age of comics, Atlas has been home to some of the greatest comic book creators of all time,” said Jon Gonda, EVP, Production, Paramount Pictures’ Motion Picture Group. “There are so many characters to love and so many stories to be told.”

In the comics, the last attempt to bring the Atlas characters to the page was also a shared-universe idea. It involved veteran writer (and now Ahoy Comics publisher) Tom Peyer. The 2011 series saw superheroes Grim Ghost, Phoenix, and Wulf the Barbarian join forces with hard-boiled cop Mike Lomax.

Founded in 1974 by Martin Goodman, Atlas Comics was a short-lived publisher that focused on creating and introducing a myriad of new characters, many of whom only made a single appearance. Despite its brief lifespan, Atlas has remained a notable name in comic book history.

Here’s the logline for Devilina, via Deadline: “Devilina follows a sheltered young woman who journeys to New York in search of her past, only to discover she is the sister of Satan. Her twin brother has been manipulating her while a detective investigates a series of murders linked to her.”

Conor O’Farrell, director of development at SP Media Group, is developing the project.

Source: Deadline