J. Michael Straczynski’s Rising Stars comic lands film deal

There are people in the creative world who are busy, and then there's J. Michael Straczynski, who finds time to write several comic books for different companies, work on Sens8 with the Wachowskis, write and re-write film scripts and more. One of his comic books – Rising Stars – is making the transition from the printed page to movies and Straczynski is on board to write the script.

Rising Stars, which you may recall made an appearance on our list of 30 Comic Books You Should Have Read a few years ago, chronicles the lives of 113 “Specials”, children who were in utero during a meteor strike on a small US town who grow up with special powers. Their triumphs and tragedies form the thread of an exceptionally tightly-plotted and complete story as they grow to adulthood, deal – or fail to deal – with their powers, fall apart and fight for their place in the world. Think a blend of The Midwich Cuckoos and the X-Men. The series was initially brought to a halt after issue 21 after a disagreement about the movie rights back then, but it was worked out and the run finished on its own terms in 2005.

The man who brought the world Babylon 5 will also be a producer on the film via his Studio JMS company, with Atlas Entertainment and MGM shepherding it to the screen.