Cult Favorite Comic Book ‘Dreadstar’ is Getting a Movie

Dreadstar, Marvel comic from the 1980s, is coming to big screen courtesy of Benderspink and Illuminati Entertainment. The comic follows the adventures of Vanth Dreadstar, the sole remaining refugee from the Milky Way Galaxy. Producer J.C. Spink of Benderspink told THR the story was one of his favorites growing up, thus his interest in bringing the project to life

Dreadstar was created by Jim Starlin, who also created the characters Thanos, the purple guy at the end of Avengers, as well as Drax and Gamora, who will both appear in Guardians of the Galaxy this summer. His Dreadstar comics teamed Vanth with characters like Syzygy Darklock, Willow, and Oedi, other outcasts caught in a war between the Monarchy and the Church of The Instrumentality. Dreadstar ran for a total of 64 issues.

Spink’s previous work includes We’re the Millers and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. He will work with Ford Gilmore of Illuminati to produce Dreadstar. As a lesser known character from a decided darker story than the likes of Superman or the Marvel Films, Dreadstar represents a chance to take a different approach to comic book superhumans. Few would call 2007’s Ghost Rider a successful adaptation of a dark fantasy comic but its status as a cult classic suggests that an audience exists for well-made film in that subgenre.