Fox has hired Star Trek 3 scribes Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne to begin work on a Flash Gordon script, based on a pitch by The Adjustment Bureau's George Nolfi. John Davis is producing, having spent the better part of a year securing the rights. Rumors of this deal first emerged last week but now THR says it's all wrapped up.
Flash Gordon was tremendously popular after artist Alex Raymond conceived the character in 1934. At the time he was developed as an answer to Buck Rogers, which was one of the top comic strips at the time. The story follows the titular hero, a Yale grad who battles the evil Ming the Merciless while going on intergalactic adventures. He's accompanied by his lover Dale Arden and scientist Dr. Hans Zarkov.
The character has been a steady presence on the big and small screen over the decades, but attempts by other studios to launch a new feature film have failed, including one that would have had Breck Eisner (The Crazies) directing. Fox is just the latest to give it a shot, and we'll have to wait and see if Flash Gordon will return to defend the Earth.
