‘Hero by Night’ Optioned for Television
D.J. Coffman’s Hero by Night has been optioned by IM Global for adaptation into a live-action television series. The book, released by Platinum Studios, won their 2006 Comic Book Challenge competition.
The Hollywood Reporter says the project is about “young landlord Jack King, who uncovers the lair of the title character. Determined to make some extra cash, Jack auctions the Hero’s journal on eBay, raising the ire of a dormant madman.”
Coffman went on to serve as a judge for the 2007 competition before a highly public falling out between the creator and Platinum over rights and payments. The conflict largely stemmed from Hero being used on Drunk Duck and Wowio, the digital portals Platinum owns, and payments coming erratically, if at all. The series, as a result, was suspended after three issues.
At his blog, Coffman admitted, "No, I was not informed. I can’t say that I’m surprised because Platinum Studios probably were afraid I’d blab about it on my blog, which has been known to kill deals and stuff I’m told. And I can’t say I’m surprised at all as how things have gone down this year, which is probably no secret at all to anyone who knows anything about this stuff in the slightest.
"I’m going to bite my tongue a little here, but only for the sake of having OTHER things going on that NOBODY in the outside world knows about, so having my name and creation in the Hollywood Reporter and out in the BUZZ isn’t a bad thing. (although sometimes I feel like I do need to shower afterward)
"I can say this about Hero By Night. It is without a doubt the BEST thing Platinum Studios has in it’s entire library. The best universe for sure. And that’s not meant to slam anything else, and it’s not meant as just cocky-creator speak… it’s truth culled from a thousand destinations.
"How do I feel about the news? Well, it’s a press release, and that doesn’t mean a whole lot about actually getting something made, as you can learn from the plethora of press releases that fire out of Hollywood daily. It’s buzz, I guess. I’ve never heard of IM Global before. You’d hope they would consult the creator, and I’d be happy to talk to them. Hero By Night could be a big success for anyone who goes about it properly.
"As for Platinum… well, I’ll bite my tongue and see if they even contact me at all about this now after the fact. I know they don’t HAVE to but…. (I’ve been down that road before) – Ironically, just yesterday I was thinking about sending them communication about what they owe me from my other contract regarding the so far 12 installments of the animated comic online and I noticed that Hero By Night is the #4 downloaded thing on Wowio, so I’m owed something from the downloads there too. Yeah, I keep tabs, I kinda have to. I just figured there was “no money” there. Maybe that’s changed? Hurm. Maybe IM Global or the new advisory board at Platinum will tell em ‘Hey, just let this guy go and make the comics!’”
IM Global is a sales and distribution company founded in March 2007 by Chief Executive Officer Stuart Ford. Their best known theatrical release is Religulous and their home video division is handling Bruce Campbell’s My Name is Bruce. Their television efforts to date have included reality and animated series although they are developing the live-action Hidden Crimes to star Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica).