Josh Duhamel and Leslie Bibb star in the Netflix adaptation of Mark Millar’s comic book series about a dysfunctional superhero family.
Mark Millar is launching Netflix’s new superhero universe with ‘Jupiter’s Legacy’
In 2017, Netflix reached an eight-figure deal for owning Millarworld and the rights to adapt its comic books into shows. Millarworld was set to be Netflix’s biggest comics-inspired universe. Now, that plan has materialized, as the partnership’s first series, Jupiter’s Legacy, begins streaming today, Friday, May 7.
The eight-episode Jupiter’s Legacy is based on the Image Comics series of the same name that Millar created with vet comic book artist Frank Quitely in 2013.
The plot features a team of heroes, led by the Supermanesque Utopian (played by Josh Duhamel), endowed with superpowers almost a century ago after a visit to an island not on any map.
There is conflict between those heroes, who feel responsibility to use their powers for good, and their superpowered children, some of whom don’t want to be their parents. And there are old sibling rivalries, as the Utopian doesn’t always agree with his telepathic brother Brainwave (Ben Daniels), arguing on how they should impact the world and what lines can’t be crossed.
There are also plans for Millar to produce new comics that will connect to Netflix’s live-action Millarworld adaptations, including a new “Jupiter’s Legacy” comic due in June.
Millar was a fan of Netflix’s Daredevil and was thrilled to get its original showrunner Steven S. DeKnight, on “Jupiter’s Legacy” (though DeKnight later exited).
In his native Scotland, Millar spends most of his day writing. Jupiter’s Legacy is embracing its comic book roots, not hiding from them as some properties do when they go mainstream. He advocated for comic book art-style opening credits.
Marvel Studios’ success has created the blueprint for storytelling through multiple properties over a long period of time, a feat DC has not had as much success with. Millar says the possibility is there for Millarworld to achieve magnitude, but it would have to be earned.
Creating Universe
“The huge mistake Hollywood made in the past is to take the audience for granted and tell them there’s a universe there,” Millar said. “You can’t go into it thinking about the universe. You have to look at each project and make it as good as it can possibly be, and then maybe years down the line you start to think about crossovers.”