Press Release
Oni Press is excited to announce that two more of their comic books have been set-up for adaptations for television and motion pictures. The Amy Devlin Mysteries series of graphic novels is in development at the E! Network as part of their inaugural slate of original script-driven programming, while the original graphic novel Rascal Raccoon’s Raging Revenge has been optioned by Warner Bros. as a special effects-driven comedy helmed by the director of A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas. Both properties have Oni Press’ sister company, Closed on Mondays, attached as producers.
“We’re extremely pleased with how things are coming together for both of these books,” said Oni Press publisher Joe Nozemack. “They both represent the varied creative philosophy behind the Oni Press publishing line: unique, creator-driven projects representing the best in genre fiction.” Nozemack was co-producer on Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and is actively involved in the adaptations of Oni Press titles.
The Amy Devlin Mysteries books are written by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, veteran television writers with credits on a wide variety of shows, including Kim Possible and Arli$$. They are also known for having worked with actress Rashida Jones to bring her story Frenemy of the State to comics. Art for the Amy Devlin books has been by Christopher Mitten and the team of Dove McHargue and Kate Kasenow.
The series was announced as being in development with the E! Network as E! makes its move into creating original scripted content. The series, which features twenty-something detective Amy Devlin in a new take on the crime-scene procedural, is being spearheaded by writer/director Daniel Barnz, whose film Won’t Back Down is due in theaters in September. Barnz will executive produce with Closed on Mondays’ Eric Gitter and Andy Bourne.
Gitter is also on the production team for Rascal Raccoon’s Raging Revenge, along with Closed on Mondays’ Noah Greenshner. The parody of classic animation is heading to Warner Bros., the pioneering studio behind many of the cartoons that inspired writer Brendan Hay and artist Justin Wagner to create the comedy graphic novel. Hay has previously written for The Simpsons, Robot Chicken, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Closed on Mondays is partnering with Ken Franchi and Todd Strauss-Schulson of Ulterior Productions. Writer Matt Fogel is attached to craft the screenplay, and Strauss-Schulson, who previously lensed A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas, will direct. The story of an animated raccoon whose life is turned upside down when he finally succeeds in killing his cartoon nemesis will be a combination of live-action and CGI.
“Both Amy Devlin and Rascal Raccoon are books that Oni Press is extremely proud of’” Nozemack concluded. “These new ventures will introduce a fresh audience to the material, while also giving the books’ fans a new way of looking at the stories they already love. We couldn’t be happier with the partners we’ve made and the possibilities going forward.”
