Heavy Metal Magazine is partnering up with Range Media Partners to produce some projects based on the iconic sci-fi/fantasy illustrated magazine brand.
A self-titled animated film was released in 1981 and featured stories from their magazine. The magazine was founded in 1977.
"Heavy Metal is one of those moments in time that if presented with, one has to build an army to realize its full potential. There are no better generals I could have imagined acquiring than Peter Micelli, Michael Cooper, Dave Bugliari, and the entire Range Media family. And with Tommy Coriale joining my inner circle, we have the pieces in place to launch an all-out assault on reshaping and redefining how genre stories are told on the screen," said CEO Matthew Medney.
He added, "Heavy Metal drew the fan base it in the '80s because it spoke to the youth of that era. Being uncomfortable with change is at the core of Heavy Metal, and our creative overlord David Erwin had a great line in that, if you see something and it doesn't make you uncomfortable, it means it's probably not that unique. That is something we hold dear, pushing to create something that might be uncomfortable for us but might be what today's generation needs, as we also try paying respect to those who built the platform over many years."
"The best comp I can draw is the R-rated model. With the ability to reach fan bases, young and old, through edgy, exciting sci-fi, fantasy, and horror content, there's a white space out there and I feel like the fans are asking for this. You can see in the evolution of genre films and TV shows over the past few years, they are getting edgier and darker. With Heavy Metal, we hope to slide right in there. We think the opportunity is there and we are ready to see it through," said Tommy Coriale, President and Head of Studio at Heavy Metal. "Our lead character from the movie is Taarna, and she remains the flagship character whose comics are sold out nationwide right now, with Eisner winner Christian Ward doing the art and Harley Quinn writer Stephanie Phillips writing it," he said. "The brand, the comic side has been in a holding pattern up till 18 months ago and now we are building speed."
