The Annihilator

Martial Media, Culture and Other Arts Martial Media and Popular Culture
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‘Hulk’ creator has plans for a Chinese superhero
By Li Jiaohao | 2012-6-19 | NEWSPAPER EDITION
The story appears on Page A5
Jun 19, 2012

Stan Lee, the 89-year-old co-creator of “Spider-Man,” “The Hulk,” “The X-Men” and “Iron Man,” is creating a Chinese superhero in cooperation with Chinese movie makers, it was announced at the Shanghai International Film Festival yesterday.

“The Annihilator” will tell the story of a Chinese superhero’s battle to save the world.

Hollywood writer Dan Gilroy, of “Real Steel” and “The Bourne Legacy” fame, is also involved in the project, National Film Capital officials revealed at a press conference.

“I love China and Chinese culture. I have been looking for the chance to cooperate with Chinese movie makers and bring forward Chinese culture to the world. I believe the Chinese superhero will be the best and the most popular superhero loved by people all over the world,” he said.

The president of National Film Capital, Wang Guowei, said he hoped collaboration on films between China and the US would have a bright future. The company is planning to invest 2 billion yuan (US$314.6 million) in Chinese movies.

It announced details of nine co-productions, which included the festival’s opening film “Painted Skin: The Resurrection.”

The others are Bruce Lee’s last script “Silent Flute,” “The Dragon Scroll,” “Genghis Khan,” “Bombing of Chongqing,” “The Tibetan Code,” “Shrinking,” “1421 The Year China Discovered The World” and “Devil’s Right Hand.”

I started a Silent Flute thread too.

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An update

Stan Lee’s New Character, ‘Annihilator,’ Gets Film Adaptation From ‘Enchanted’ Producer and ‘Bourne Legacy’ Writer
Posted on Thursday, February 21st, 2013 by Germain Lussier

When Stan Lee appears in a Marvel movie, it’s a sign of respect. Each cameo acknowledges that comic book legend created, or co-created, most of the major cornerstone characters in the Marvel universe. In the decades since creating Spider-Man, the Avengers and the X-Men, Lee has continued to create superheroes both for Marvel and on his own and now one of the newest ones is about to get his own movie.

The character is named Annihilator and he’s a Chinese prisoner who undergoes a dangerous procedure infusing him with the powers of several different animals. Producer Barry Josephson (Enchanted, Bones, Wild Wild West) and Magic Storm Entertainment have signed on to develop a film version, which has a script by Dan Gilroy (The Bourne Legacy).

“One of my dreams when I became a producer was to work with Stan Lee,” said Josephson in a press release. ”Now with Dan Gilroy’s magnificent script, that dream will become a reality.”

Here’s how the press release describes the story of Annihilator:

ANNIHILATOR tells the story of a young Chinese expatriate, Ming, who must choose between remaining in prison or enlist in a secret US super soldier program.  The program uses targeted genetic enhancements from various animal species.  Ming chooses to undergo this nearly fatal procedure and through his extreme resolve, gained as a result of his family’s tradition of practicing Qijong and martial arts, he survives. Now, armed with remarkable abilities, he must confront a former rival with his own set of enhanced faculties. Our reluctant hero is forced not only to face his personal demons, but also to defeat the villain who will destroy everything that he knows and loves.

Do you still think Stan Lee has it? Will we see this project at a major studio?

Now if the film version is developed the same time as the comic, is the comic just a comic version of the film?

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more

This article is in the wake of the previous, but it also fills in more of the Chinese connection…and qijong! :rolleyes:

Josephson joins Annihilator
By Patrick Frater
Wed, 27 February 2013, 15:53 PM (HKT)

The Annihilator , the Chinese superhero franchise envisaged by Stan LEE, is to be produced by Barry Josephson and Douglas Falconer.

Josephson previously produced Wild Wild West and Enchanted as well as long-running TV series Bones. Falconer co-executive produced The Warrior’s Way (2010) and produced Heaven’s Rain.

It was previously announced that the Annihilator franchise is being executive produced by Eric MIKA and his Magic Storm Entertainment LLC, with a screenplay written by Dan GILROY.

“[Josephson] will create a genuine co-production that will have both a global appeal and perform well with audiences in China. We are very pleased to have Barry and Doug join this major co-production,” said YANG Buting , chairman of Chinese state-run film investor, National Film Capital .

NFC, which has a co-production and co-finance agreement with Magic Storm, will partially fund the film by drawing on an initial $422 million raised by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and other partners.

Magic Storm’s primary focus is to develop globally appealing Hollywood branded Stan Lee film franchises that appeal to audiences throughout China and the rest of the world. Lee (pictured) is the comic book creator who invented Spider Man, Iron Man, The X-Men, The Fantastic Four and The Hulk.

The fantasy, action film is pitched as telling “the story of a young Chinese expatriate, Ming, who must choose between remaining in prison or enlist in a secret US super soldier program. The programme uses targeted genetic enhancements from various animal species. Ming chooses to undergo this nearly fatal procedure and through his extreme resolve, gained as a result of his family’s tradition of practising qijong and martial arts, he survives. Now, armed with remarkable abilities, he must confront a former rival with his own set of enhanced faculties. The reluctant hero is forced not only to face his personal demons, but also to defeat the villain who will destroy everything that he knows and loves.”