A couple of graphic novel film adaptations making the rounds this am. First, Columbia has a film based on THE BOYS in development, with producers Neal H. Moritz, Ken F. Levin and Jason Netter on board. THE BOYS by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson follows the darkly humorous adventures of a team assigned to clean up the often very excessive excesses of superheroes. The book is published by Dynamite after a much-publicized early run at Wildstorm.

Next up, Warner’s is fast tracking a two-picture adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s AKIRA. The first part could be out as soon as 2009. Otomo, who directed an influential anime version in 1988, is listed as a exec producer, Leonardo DiCaprio is a producer, and first-time director Ruairi Robinson will direct from a script by Gary Whitta (“Book of Eli”). According to Variety, WB had held the rights to Akira for years, but had to recapture them in a “spirited” bidding war which ended up with a seven figure deal to publisher Kodansha.

Dark Horse last published the 6-volume AKIRA series in the US, but from a scan of the Dark Horse site it seems several volumes are out of stock. Time to fire up the presses!

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