Partnering with Sharad Devarajan.
By The American Bazaar Staff
NEW YORK: Stan Lee, the legendary ‘Spiderman’ creator is developing a Bollywood film version of his Indian superhero character ‘Chakra the Invincible’.
After launching Chakra the Invincible — his first Indian superhero comic character — back in 2011, Lee is now developing a film version of the property, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Lee and his producing partners, Gill Champion from POW! Entertainment and Graphic India CEO Sharad Devarajan have been meeting with leading Bollywood directors, producers and writers to adapt Chakra as a Bollywood live action film.
The original comics revolved around an Indian teenager, Raju Rai, a technology genius living in Mumbai. Determined to use science to unlock the secrets of human potential, Raju develops a technically enhanced suit that activates the mystical chakras of the body, unleashing newfound abilities and powers, according to the Reporter.
The film is being developed with a grown-up version of the Chakra character tackling his arch-enemy, Boss Yama. Lee also revealed the first set of concept images of Chakra’s new version via social media.
Without revealing any names as to what kind of Bollywood talent has been approached for the project, Lee said in a statement, “We’ve set up some great meetings already with some of the most amazingly talented actors and directors in Indian cinema, and I have no doubt that these individuals will help make the Chakra film a massive hit in India and around the globe.”
The project is aiming to start detailed preproduction by the first quarter of 2015 and go into production by the end of next year or early 2016, said the report.
Last year, Chakra the Invincible was launched as a kids’ animated franchise, which aired on Cartoon Network India. A digital mobile series debuted on Rovio’s ToonsTV through the Angry Birds game.
For Devarajan, who is also the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Comics LLC, a digital entertainment company that uses the medium of graphic novel storytelling to develop original content for various digital platforms, this could be the biggest break in his career.
Devarajan is also a Producer / Executive Producer on a number of theatrical live-action film projects based on Liquid and Graphic’s comic properties including, the film adaptation of Gamekeeper with director Guy Ritchie, The Leaves with Summit Entertainment., Ramayan 3392 A.D with Mandalay Entertainment, Dominion: Dinosaurs Versus Aliens, with director Barry Sonnenfeld and producer Arnold Rifkin[and a creator of Ani-Max and First Family, two television shows in development with FremantleMedia Enterprises.
Previously, Devarajan was also the Co-Founder, President & CEO of Gotham Entertainment Group, South Asia’s leading comic book publisher. He was instrumental in securing and launching the South Asian publishing program for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. introducing the South Asian market to such notable comic magazines including Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, Hulk, and X-Men.