A feature film adaptation called Black, based on a comic book where only Black people have superpowers, is on its way from Warner Bros and Studio 8. First conceived of over a decade ago, the comic series is the brainchild of Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3.
After working for both Marvel and D.C., Osajyefo was desperate to create something that spoke to the all too often minimized or outright ignored demographic of Black comic book readers. The idea for a world in which only Black people had superpowers continued to run through his mind. Eventually, Osajyefo set up a Kickstarter campaign to try and get things moving on the project. By 2017, the first issue of Black was released. Since then, five more issues of the successful comic have been released. The first story chronicles the realization of a young Black man called Kareem who, after surviving being shot by the police, learns that Black people have hidden superpowers others do not have. Dealing with real-world issues that continue to affect Black communities in America and worldwide, Black has managed to make a significant mark on the comic book world.
The success of Black prompted Warner Bros. to take notice, and as reported by Deadline, a film adaptation of the comic book series is on the way. There is no director attached to the project, but Bryan Edward Hill (Titans, Ash Vs. Evil Dead) has already completed the screenplay. The story will remain faithful to the first comic, with a young Black man being shot by the police and then learning that he has superpowers and that a secret consortium wishes to harness and control these abilities. Speaking about the comic and the upcoming film adaptation, Osajyefo said:
“Part of the inspiration for Black came from my experiencing the lack of representation in comics publishing and how that directly relates to the scarceness of black characters. For most of comics’ history, white outcasts have been used as allegories for marginalized groups while claiming to reflect the world outside our window. BLACK strips away this veneer to juxtapose superpowers with race while allowing black people to see ourselves authentically in media and inviting wider audiences into parts of our experience. We’re excited to bring this story to everyone through film, and thankful to Studio 8 for believing in it.”
The timing for this project seems right for Warner Bros., as Disney’s release of Black Panther in 2018 proved that a superhero film focused on Black characters and issues had enormous global appeal. Audiences have grown tired of seeing a lack of diverse representation in film and television, and it’s steadily becoming clearer that studios or filmmakers who do not wish to explore new ground will be worse off for it. It’s also arguable that with the significant financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Hollywood, ignoring issues that audiences are interested in seeing addressed on the big screen - such as race relations and police brutality - is a sizeable gamble.
Indeed, there is a need for more stories involving Black superheroes. Comic book movies have proven to be massively successful and in-demand at cinemas worldwide, but these stories very rarely focus on marginalized communities. When many people are learning just how vital it is for diverse voices to be heard, Black could end up being a massive win for Osajyefo, Smith, and Warner Bros.
Source: Deadline
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