Scout Comics series “The Mall” has been optioned for television by filmmaker Ivan Reitman’s production company Montecito Pictures, according to a press release sent out by the publisher today. The comic, written by Don Handfield (co-creator of the History Channel’s Knightfall) and James Haick III (“Solar Flare“), and illustrated by Rafael Loureiro, will be adapted by Handfield himself.
Begun earlier this year, “The Mall” is set in the ’80s and follows three characters – known as the Quarterback, the Princess, and the Geek – who discover they’re related when their real father, a mid-level crime boss, dies and leaves each of them with the inheritance of their own store at the local mall. Each store is actually a front for the mob, and the teenagers soon have to decide whether to go straight or break bad, all while coping with the usual problems that come with being a teenager.
“To have Ivan Reitman, director of some of biggest hits of 1980s – blockbusters like Stripes, Ghostbusters and Twins, and his amazing team at Montecito helping shepherd to television our comic, which is set in that era, is quite literally a dream come true,” Handfield and Haick said in a joint statement. Tennessee Williams, the chief creative officer at Scout Comics, said “’The Mall’ is one of the best reviewed series Scout has ever released and it’s no surprise as the writing strikes the perfect balance between character and pathos. We believe this will be one of our big hits in the entertainment landscape.”
Press release:
‘The Mall’ Comic Book Series Being Developed For Television By Ivan Reitman’s Montecito Pictures
10/02/2018 – NEW YORK – Ivan Reitman’s Montecito Pictures has picked up Don Handfield & James Haick III’s critically acclaimed comic series The Mall, published by Scout Comics. Handfield, the co-creator of History Channel’s Knightfall will adapt for the small screen through his Motor Television banner.
Set in the golden age of kiosks, arcades and food courts, THE MALL tells the story of three teenagers — the QUARTERBACK, the PRINCESS and the GEEK, who all find out they’re related when their real father, a mid-level crime boss, dies and leaves them each a store inside the local mall. The catch is, the stores are fronts for the mob, and the teens must decide whether to break bad or go legit, all while trying to navigate the high stakes John Hughes type drama that is high school in the 1980s. Finding a date for the prom is one thing, doing it with the Columbian drug cartel out to kill you is another.
“To have Ivan Reitman, director of some of biggest hits of 1980s – blockbusters like Stripes, Ghostbusters and Twins, and his amazing team at Montecito helping shepherd to television our comic, which is set in that era, is quite literally a dream come true,” said Handfield & Haick in a joint statement.
Handfield’s first comic series The Rift was also optioned for television and his upcoming new comic series THE SOURCE, also from Scout Comics, co-created with Joshua Malkin (CABIN FEVER 2) launches at New York Comic-Con 2018 with a limited edition glow-in-the-dark variant cover.
Haick is the creator of another successful ongoing Scout series SOLAR FLARE, about mankind’s quest to survive after a x-class solar flare wipes out the world’s electrical infrastructure, along with the upcoming Long Live Pro Wrestling series.
Scout Comics CCO Tennessee Williams said “The Mall is one of the best reviewed series Scout has ever released and it’s no surprise as the writing strikes the perfect balance between character and pathos. We believe this will be one of our big hits in the entertainment landscape”.
Scout comics was founded to discover, develop, and support content creators and help translate their projects to different platforms and mediums. The label has had several breakout hits recently, including ZInnober and Obliv18n, and Stabbity Bunny by Richard Rivera. The MALL features art by Rafael Louriero, colors by Ringo-nominee Dijjo Lima and letters by DC Hopkins.
