Having previously added a live-action adaptation of the anime classic Robotech to his producing slate, actor Tobey Maguire has mounted an adaptation of Red 5 Comics’ upcoming comic book Afterburn, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He will produce the film through his Maguire Ent., along with Neal Moritz and his Original Films.
Afterburn is described as a sci-fi adventure set on Earth after a freak solar flare has destroyed most of the Eastern hemisphere. A group of treasure hunters venture into the burn zone to retrieve such iconic objects as the Mona Lisa, the Rosetta Stone and the Crown Jewels, al the while fending off rival seekers, pirates and mutants. The first issue of the comic is slated to debut at retail in January.
The comic is crated and written by Red 5 founders Paul Ens and Scott Chitwood, and illustrated by Wayne Nichols. Ens is the former director of Lucasfilm’s StarWars.com and Lucas Online, and Chitwood co-founded Star Wars fansite TheForce.net and has contributed to popular entertainment sites ComingSoon.net and SuperHeroHype.com. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Red 5 borrows its name from Luke Skywalker’s handle during the Death Star attack in the first Star Wars film. Ryan Kavanaugh’s Relativity Media is in the process of acquiring film rights to Afterburn.
