THR is reporting that Legendary Entertainment has snapped up the big screen rights to Ex Machina, the sci-fi comic book series from Brian K. Vaughan (Runaways, Y: The Last Man), and is in development on a feature film version under the title of The Great Machine.
Launching in 2004 and running for 50 issues through DC’s Wildstorm imprint, the series follows Mitchell Hundred, a former superhero called the Great Machine who becomes mayor of New York City following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Anna Waterhouse and Joe Shrapnel (Seberg) are scripting the movie, which will “revolve around Hundred dealing with a threatened political career when the source of his powers returns to claim its debt.”
Ex Machina was previously in development at New Line Cinema between 2005 and 2012, before the rights reverted back to Vaughan and artist Tony Harris. Vaughan will serve as a producer on this new version.
