INVINCIBLE: Robert Kirkman Shares A Big Update On Long-Delayed Plans For A Live-Action Movie

INVINCIBLE: Robert Kirkman Shares A Big Update On Long-Delayed Plans For A Live-Action Movie

Invincible co-creator Robert Kirkman shares an update on the live-action movie first announced in 2017 and admits that some major changes to the source material might have to be made for the big screen.

By JoshWilding - Aug 30, 2024 04:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Invincible
Source: The Direct

We first learned of plans for a live-action Invincible movie in 2017. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg boarded the project as writers and directors, with Point Grey Pictures and Skybound Entertainment producing and Universal Pictures set to distribute. 

All signs pointed to the project being a priority. Unfortunately, it seems to have fallen by the wayside, with the focus shifting to Prime Video's animated Invincible TV series based on Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley's comic book. 

There have been a few updates suggesting the movie is still happening, something Kirkman confirmed during an interview with The Direct when he said, "It's still in development."

The prolific comic book writer added, "We're still working with Universal. You know, the show is going so well. I think the movie absolutely has to be perfect. And so it's taking a lot of time, like getting the pieces aligned and getting everything to work so that we can come out and make it as good as it can possibly be."

"So it's been in development for a long time, and it's probably going to be in development for a while longer."

Elsewhere in the interview, Kirkman acknowledged that a movie needs to "provide a different experience" than the TV show and said "it has to stand on its own" and "maybe tell the same story, maybe tell a different story."

The Prime Video series has adhered closely to the comics, making minimal changes to the source material. However, having multiple episodes is very different to a two-hour movie and Kirkman admits that part of the process of adapting Invincible to the big screen has been "condensing." 

"[That] can be frustrating at times, but it's also a fun challenge. But the animated series, especially for us, I think of it as an expanding process," Kirkman says. "I think that there's a lot of different scenes if you compare them to the comic, we do more. We put more emotion in them. There's more dialogue going on. There's a little bit more character development happening."

It's hard to escape the feeling that bringing Invincible to the big screen is going to require some major changes; after all, if it condenses, say, the first arc into a movie, then it will feel like it's just retreading old ground and critics will have a field say with that. 

Perhaps an Omni-Man origin story or something along those lines is the way to go? Or a sequel to the comics which picks up with an older Mark Grayson? We'll see. 

Published by Image Comics and set in the Image Universe, Invincible follows the coming of age of superhero Mark Grayson/Invincible, a Viltrumite and first-born son of Omni-Man, the most powerful superhero on Earth. The series began publication on January 22, 2003 and concluded on February 14, 2018, with 144 issues. 

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Chasekeane
Chasekeane - 8/30/2024, 5:04 AM
I'm not sure i see the point, it works so well as a serial show. Stuffing it all into a couple hours just seems messy.
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 8/30/2024, 5:04 AM
@Chasekeane - This. Just corporate greed
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 8/30/2024, 6:59 AM
@Chasekeane - I agree

Honestly think serialized is the best way to go with alot of these comic properties since they are long form stories
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 8/30/2024, 7:38 AM
@Chasekeane - agreed. this is a BAD idea. the show is nearly flawless, in my opinion(never read the comics)
TrentCrimm
TrentCrimm - 8/30/2024, 8:21 AM
@Chasekeane -

I could see it working if they just tell a separate story from the show. Use the 2 hour or whatever runtime to tell a singular Invincible story, it doesn't need to be an origin story that goes over the same ground as the show imo.
The1st
The1st - 8/30/2024, 8:29 AM
@Chasekeane - I feel like the budget and production would fall flat on a show. Always seems to with superhero IP's. Tell the same story, maybe tell a different story, is so Kirkman though.
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 8/30/2024, 5:04 AM
Get someone that gives a shit and right now, clearly nobody does
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 8/30/2024, 5:10 AM
@FireandBlood - Speak for yourself
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 8/30/2024, 5:14 AM
@Urubrodi - You misunderstand. I’m not saying no one cares about the property, I’m saying they need to get someone in the chair that does, and right now, no one does
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 8/30/2024, 5:41 AM
@FireandBlood - Fair enough, got you, definitely misunderstood what you meant there.
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 8/30/2024, 6:06 AM
@FireandBlood - I think it's, because te cartoon is good and some of them doesn't wanna touch and ruin it by making some garbage short movie about it. It should be like 4 movie deal, or even more.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 8/30/2024, 5:11 AM
With the right budget, cast and R-rating (cause it needs to maintain the level of violence the show is known for) it can work really well.
IronDean2099
IronDean2099 - 8/30/2024, 6:40 AM
On one hand, the show is good and maybe just leave it alone instead of trying to milk it cos I don't need to see the same story and I don't necessarily want to see just a random different story with Invincible cut and pasted into it.

On the other hand though, if they pulled this off and it was like say, Kick Ass but with actual world shattering super powers. Really crazy violence, cool soundtrack and a solid story, this could be something cool and different.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 8/30/2024, 6:58 AM
While doing a live action movie based on the comics at more or less the same time as the animated series seems redundant , I also do get it to an extent…

Sadly atleast in terms of the West , animation is still viewed as a kids medium and live action is considered “superior” so this way they can get more of a widespread audience that maybe hasn’t checked out the show & dismissed as “kids stuff” even though it’s most definitely not.

If it happens , interested to see how they adapt it to a 2 hour or so movie each and who they cast aswell…

Jon Hamm for Omni Man!!.

User Comment Image
WruceBayne
WruceBayne - 8/30/2024, 9:17 AM
@TheVisionary25 - that casting is spot on. They’ll probably use Jeffrey Dean Morgan instead though.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 8/30/2024, 9:31 AM
@WruceBayne - I would give that a shot though I do think Hamm fits the role better
DocSpock
DocSpock - 8/30/2024, 6:59 AM

If they make this a movie, I’ll try it out. I tried watching the cartoon but couldn’t get through the 2nd episode.

MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 8/30/2024, 7:40 AM
@DocSpock - of all people, i thought you would LOVE this show... its soooo damn good man. give it another shot, i think you'll like the carnage
DocSpock
DocSpock - 8/30/2024, 8:05 AM
@MotherGooseUPus -

I just don't like cartoons and animated stuff. When everyone here says an animated thing is great, I consider it and very occasionally try it, but I can't get into it.

MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 8/30/2024, 8:21 AM
@DocSpock - ahhhh fair enough... well, personally i think a live action Invincible movie is a bad idea especially when the show is sooooo f*cking good, and graphic. they could never pull that off... but, we'll see
DTor91
DTor91 - 8/30/2024, 12:09 PM
“after all, if it condenses, say, the first arc into a movie, then it will feel like it's just retreading old ground and critics will have a field say with that.”

Day*, and this makes the assumption that all the critics watch the show, or the comics. Unless they’re the kind of pop culture critics invested in all this stuff, which makes a small number of all the critics that would be involved, they don’t know Invincible. A good number of people STILL don’t take animation seriously, and that’s especially double for comics. While Invincible has had its pop culture moments thanks to the show, this isn’t Batman where everyone knows the gist of his story whether they follow or not. Invincible is still a young franchise and if done right, a film could work really well and expand the franchise to new heights.

Critics will only have a field day if it’s a mess of a movie, should it ever happen.

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