Comic book writer Mark Millar, best known for creating Kick-Ass and Kingsman, says he plans to write his own versions of Superman and Batman once those characters enter the public domain. Many of Millar’s comic creations have been adapted into major films, but his next moves will be independent of DC and Warner Bros.
Hollywood and the publishing industry are both facing growing challenges from expiring copyrights on legacy characters. When protection lapses, anyone can legally create new works based on those properties. Recent examples include public domain versions of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, and Mickey Mouse, which have already inspired horror versions such as Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, and Screamboat.
Superman and Batman are expected to follow in the next decade. In an interview with Wes Daugherity of Thinking Critical, Millar confirmed that he intends to take full advantage when Superman enters the public domain in 2034. The relevant part of tghe interview begins around 52:40 into the video (embedded below).
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“It’s eight years in January,” Millar said. “I’m going to use three artists and I’ve put two of them under contract already. We’ll launch in January 2034.
“One of the artists needs a long time because he’s going to do a 12 issue run and I’m going to start him in four years time. He’s going to get a quarter of a million dollars up front to draw this thing. Before we get a single cent in, he’s under contract already and I’ll start writing it in about three years time, and we’ll have it in January 2034.
“The other two guys I’ve spoken to informally, but we’ll get them under contract in a couple of years, too. So, I’m totally serious about it. And I’ll do Batman the following year.”
Millar added that he will focus on early Superman antagonists. “The only two characters I’m going to use are [Lex] Luthor and Mr Mxyzptlk, because they were both created in the first couple of years, so you’ve got access to them by the end of the second year.”
He also ruled out other well-known villains. “Brainiac, no way. You have to wait 25 more years for Brainiac. But to be honest, all the other ones you can live without. You don’t need Bizarro. You don’t need Toyman or Prankster or anything. Luthor is the big one, and otherwise, I’m just going to create lots of new Superman villains. That’s my plan.”
Millar described his long-term vision in blunt terms. “2034 to 2039 – I’m going to completely exploit all the DC characters with the best artists. I’m going to steal the best artists from Marvel and DC and do the DC characters with them. I just like causing trouble.”
He also revealed that his ambitions extend to film ideas based on public domain adaptations. “I’ve got an entirely new way of doing Superman; like an entirely new way of doing it,” he said. “I’ve got it all blocked out. I’ve got the whole thing planned. And I want to do movies of it as well, coz it’ll be public domain. So there’s no reason we can’t do it at another studio. So yeah, we’re going to hit it hard.”
Millar’s comments highlight a major shift in creative ownership that could reshape both comics and Hollywood. If copyright rules stay on schedule, his Superman series could arrive in less than nine years, with a Batman title to follow soon after.
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English (US) · 