Last December, Paramount Pictures announced the development of a shared cinematic universe based on their Hasbro properties – including G.I. Joe, M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand), Micronauts, Visionairies, and ROM – similar to the one they are currently working on for their extremely lucrative Transformers franchise. The next logical step was to assemble a team of creative samurai to help them foster Hollywood’s latest attempt to one-up Marvel to the silver screen.
The studio just announced that they have put together a jaw-dropping writers’ room that includes Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon (The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Wonder Boys) and Eisner Award-winning comic book writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Saga).
Everyone has or wants their very own shared universe these days, trying to mimic the success that Marvel has had. But if Paramount Pictures has their way, they’ll have at least two shared universes in the coming years.
We already know that, after four movies directed by Michael Bay and a fifth on the way, Paramount is developing a Transformers shared universe with a large team of writers and plans for spinoffs, prequels, and so on. Now comes word that Paramount is developing yet another shared universe, this time bringing together five other Hasbro properties including G.I. Joe, M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand), Micronauts, Visionairies, and ROM.
Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese have been hired to write a script for Micronauts, a movie based on the popular Hasbro toy for producer J.J. Abrams and Paramount Pictures.
Paramount struck a deal with Hasbro for the property recently, and it’s considered a priority project behind the plannedTransformers 4. Abrams will produce through his Bad Robot Productions.
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press