The Walking Dead co-creator Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment has struck a financing deal with Sony Pictures Television. Variety is reporting that the deal is the first step in developing new series based on existing comic book properties.
This new enterprise will result in the creation of Skybound Galactic, a production company led by CEO Rick Jacobs. Jacobs has served an executive producer on BBC’s Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency and Syfy’s Wynnona Earp. He previously held the literary manager position at Circle of Confusion, the management and production company that represents Kirkman, among other artistic talents.
“Combining the multi-platform capabilities of Skybound and Top Cow’s extensive library of IP with the best worldwide distribution in Sony is an unbelievable opportunity,” said Jacobs. “I’m looking forward to continuing Skybound’s mission to help creators expand their content into new markets.”
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Kirkman created Skybound Entertainment in 2010 with David Alpert, who has worked as a producer on both The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead for AMC. Since that year, the company has been publishing a number of Kirkman-penned books as an imprint of Image Comics, including The Walking Dead, Invincible, Outcast, and Oblivion Song. Skybound has also ventured into other media territories with its own line of indie video game releases as well as a partnership with Simon & Schuster’s Atria Books for a co-publishing imprint.
Currently, Skybound Galactic is developing series based on Kirkman’s own Thief of Thieves and Image’s Nailbiter, which was created by Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson in 2014. The studio also has a first look deal with Top Cow Comics in place to adapt projects from their nearly 30-year publishing history. Adaptations of Top Cow’s The Darkness and Think Tank are also in development.
“The team at Skybound already has a stellar track record in creating successful genre properties, and like us, are committed to creating undeniable viewing experiences for audiences around the world,” added Keith Le Goy, Sony’s president of worldwide distribution.
The Skybound Galactic board is comprised of Jacobs, Kirkman, Alpert, and managing partner Jon Goldman. Which comic books would you like to see the studio adapt? Let us know in the comment section below.
