Gerald McMurray (The First Purge) has signed on to write and direct an adaptation of comic book Black for Studio 8 and Warner Bros. The comic debuted in 2016 from Black Mask Studios by writers Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3, and illustrators Jamal Igle and Khary Randolph. It examines a world in which Black people alone have superpowers.
The upcoming film will revolve around a young man who discovers his powers after surviving a violent crime, and soon finds himself in the middle of a war over the future of humanity in a world where a secret society seeks to control the empowered and their abilities.
Jeff Robinov and John Graham will produce for Studio 8, while Osajyefo and Smith will also co-produce the project alongside Black Mask Studio’s Matteo Pizzolo.
Along with The First Purge, McMurray has previously helmed the frat house Sundance film Burning Sands and recently directed an episode of the revival of The Twilight Zone. He’s currently set to direct and executive produce FX’s upcoming series The Spook Who Sat By The Door, based on Sam Greenlee‘s 1969 novel and previously adapted into the 1973 film of the same name.
Black is one of many superhero comic book adaptations currently in the works, but it could stand out from the pack thanks to its unique hook and potential for incendiary social commentary.
McMurray has some experience with that thanks to The First Purge, but that was a part of a franchise, and he didn’t write that film. We’ll see what he can do now that he’s writing and directing a standalone comic adaptation with hopefully a little more freedom to express his ideas.
#Peace.Love.Black
