Folks who consider themselves more fans of Marvel movies than of the comics that originally inspired them might know Stan Lee best as that old guy who keeps showing up in superhero films for seemingly no reason at all. The rest know that Lee, a writer and former president/chairman of Marvel Comics to name but a few of his life's accomplishments, collaborated with artists such as Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko to create some of the company's most iconic and enduring superheroes, like the Incredible Hulk, the Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man. And while he's one of the minds behind their super stories that have made their way into movie theaters in recent years, Lee's own life story is now getting the big-screen treatment.
As THR reports, 20th Century Fox has purchased the life rights to Lee's story and aims to bring it to the big screen. Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey (Twilight, The Maze Runner, Power Rangers) are attached to produce; Lee and his POW Entertainment partner Gil Champion will exec produce the project. Don't expect a cradle-to-the-grave tale, however. For one thing, Lee's still alive and kicking at the age of 93; he'll be 94 late this December. Instead, the hall-of-famer will be the focus of a feature film that's being billed as a period action-adventure flick.
More specifically, the 1970s-set picture has been described as being in the tone of Kingsman: The Secret Service and "Roger Moore's 007." This would take place well after Lee's birth in 1922 and his earliest entry into the comics world in 1939. In his 40s, Lee had yet to realize his dream of writing the "Great American Novel," but in a last-ditch effort--inspired by his wife--ended up co-creating the Fantastic Four and launching the Marvel Comics revolution in the 60s.
It was in the 70s that Lee moved to Hollywood in order to pursue his dream of not just creating super-heroes and fictional worlds, but seeing them adapted for big and small screens alike. That's where the film's focus will be. So instead of a typical biopic, Lee's slice of life will envision him as a dapper man about town, hobnobbing with the Hollywood elite and quipping to his unseen audience. Currently there's no writer attached to the project, so details may change. What's clear, however, is that Lee has led no ordinary life, so a twist on his life's story would be a welcome one.
Are you up for a Stan Lee biopic? Would you prefer a more traditional route to this action-adventure slant? Let us know in the comments below!
