Matt Johnson to Write Afterburn Comic Book Adaptation

Into the Blue and Torque screenwriter Matt Johnson has been hired to adapt a big screen version of the Red 5 comic book Afterburn for producers Tobey Maguire and Neil Moritz (I Am Legend, xXx). No director has been attached.

The sci-fi comic book follows a group of treasure-hunters for hire in the future who “recover” exotic valuables from an Earth half-destroyed by a devastating solar flare, which has left a wily world roamed by mutants, rival pirates and assorted derelicts.. Described as “Indiana Jones meets Mad Max, but instead of ancient artifacts in cob-webbed temples in traditional pulp adventure” the characters raid more contemporary treasures from felled museums. For instance, in the first issue the team must claim the Mona Lisa from a Louve in shambles. Sounds like an interesting concept, but Johnson’s credits thus are far from confidence inducing.

source: THR

  • Man..Matt Johnson? Torque? Wow..
  • Nothing about this sounds good. To be adapted by the guy who adapted Into the Blue (-1) and Torque (-2), Produced by Tobey Maguire(-3) and Neil Moritz of I Am Legend (-4) and xXx(-5,-6,-7), described as Indiana Jones meets Mad Max (-10), and instead of stealing something of value in a post-apocalyptic world like resources or commodities, they go after the Mona Lisa? They just need to get Nick Cage to star and they'll be a shoe-in for a razzie.
  • Mad Max was an awesome Australian Movie..
  • Mad max was good...i am legend was excellent as well(minus the ending) other wise im all in on the others
  • What's wrong with Mad Max? Hell, what's wrong with Tobey producing?
  • Donald
    There's nothing wrong with Mad Max, but there is something very wrong when Mad Max meets Indiana Jones. And there's definitely something screwed up if Torque is connected at all.
  • GregoryV
    Tobey? Give me Robotech!
  • Um I actually like the sound of this. Seems like it would be a fun film to watch.
  • Scott Chitwood
    I co-wrote the original comic, so I'm a tad biased! :) I'll say the whole Mona Lisa thing is just the opening scene, ala the Fertility Idol in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Instead of an ancient temple, they're in the ruins of the Louvre.
  • The photo looks like Contra.
  • My Illustration teacher (whose class I just returned from) Matt Busch is the illustrator/painter for the covers of Afterburn. He told us a lot about it, including Tobey Maguire's involvement. Looks interesting.
  • Sounds cool to me. It could be a great low-budget action flick starring Jason Statham or something.
  • pangloss
    i don't know about into the blue but torque was hilarious. hopefully at least some of it was intentional, otherwise this movie is going to blow.
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