Warner Bro. Pictures plans to produce a live-action movie based on the DC Comics property Teen Titans, which Warner Bros. Animation made into hit animated series on Cartoon Network. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) is producing the superhero flick with Kerry Foster through their Weed Road shingle, but the screenplay will be penned by Smallville and Battlestar Galactica writer-producer Mark Verheiden.
Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, Teen Titans made its comic book debut in 1964 and soon grew into its own monthly comic book series that ran for seven years. The New Teen Titans followed in 1980 and became DC’s most popular comic book of the decade that followed. The revamped version dealt more with the teenage angst aspect and serves as the basis for the animated series, which debuted in 2003 and is produced under the guidance of Emmy Award winner Glen Murakami.
The animated series focuses on teenage caped crusaders Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven and Beast Boy, but the comics have featured a number of characters, including Kid Flash, Aqualad, Wonder Girl and Speedy. It’s not yet known which ones will make the cut for the feature film, but the trade publication has it on good authority that the plot will involve Nightwing, the persona Robin took on when he left Batman’s side to become a superhero in his own right.
Though he has received top accolades for his dramatic work, Goldsman is no stranger to the world of comic books and masked avengers. He wrote 1995’s Batman Forever and the 1997 follow-up Batman and Robin, and is currently producing Warner Bros.’ Will Smith superhero pic Tonight He Comes. His Weed Road is also developing films based on the DC Comc properties Doom Patrol and The Losers.
In addition to writing and producing episodes of the Superman-themed Smallville television series, Verheiden has written installments of the Superman, Aliens and The Phantom comic books, and co-created Dark Horse Comics’ Timecop with Mike Richardson.
