Meanwhile, the feature film is moving forward at Minds Eye. Company president Kevin DeWalt, who will produce, has raised $120,000 in development funding from Telefilm Canada, provincial commission Saskfilm and private sources. Veteran Vancouver screenwriter Arne Olsen (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie) is expected to deliver the script by summer’s end, with input from Comely and story consultant David Cormican.
DeWalt will then chase foreign sales at the Toronto and Berlin film festivals and the American Film Market. Ideally, he will land a Canadian star in the lead role and the movie will go to camera next summer or in spring 2015.
The appetite for superhero flicks has not abated, as evidenced by Iron Man 3’s $1.2 billion worldwide gross, and DeWalt thinks it’s time Canada sees some of that action.
“We’re selling it as an action picture and not necessarily a Canadian story,” he says. “We want it to be a worldwide success and creatively that’s how we’re developing it. It just happens that instead of it being Captain America, we introduce a superhero to the world called Captain Canuck.”
The film, which would potentially launch a franchise, would retell the hero’s origin story.
“It’s a typical superhero-type film with a great storyline, a little bit of humour and lots of action,” DeWalt continues. “The difference is it’s clearly set in Canada. We’re using the Vancouver landscape, the mountains, the ocean, the harbours, Stanley Park, etc., and we’re blatantly setting it in Canadian society utilizing Canadian-isms that the local audience will get a kick out of.”
Official Press Release, July 2012
Screenwriter Selected to Script Canadian Superhero Flick Captain Canuck
Canadian-born Hollywood-based screenwriter Arne Olsen (MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: THE MOVIE, COP AND A HALF, REPEATERS) is on board to adapt Richard Comely's iconic Canadian crusader for the big screen. Olsen will script the film adaptation based on the CAPTAIN CANUCK comic book series for Minds Eye Entertainment.
“CAPTAIN CANUCK is not only a Canadian icon but an internationally recognized superhero," said Minds Eye Entertainment CEO Kevin DeWalt. "Arne Olsen is the perfect choice to pen a stand-out action-packed script."
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Creator Richard Comely, who will work closely with the screenwriter added: “With Arne Olsen on board we are set to deliver a movie that will delight CAPTAIN CANUCK followers and welcome new fans around the world."
Official Press Release, July 2011
Minds Eye Entertainment to Develop Feature Film Based on Canadian Superhero CAPTAIN CANUCK
Minds Eye Entertainment to Develop Feature Film Based on Canadian Superhero CAPTAIN CANUCK
Minds Eye Entertainment has picked up the rights to the Canadian comic book Superhero CAPTAIN CANUCK from writer/creator Richard Comely, as announced today by Kevin DeWalt, CEO and President of Minds Eye. Working closely with Comely, Minds Eye is currently in development on a film adaptation based on the comic book series.
The first issue of CAPTAIN CANUCK hit newsstands in May 1975. Thirty-six years later, the superhero franchise has garnered fans around the world. To date, more than 2 million copies have been sold and 26 different editions have been printed. IDW Publishing recently published two hardcover collections of the original issues that have since sold out.DeWalt said: “I have always been a big fan of CAPTAIN CANUCK, and we are honored to be working with Richard on bringing Canada’s greatest Superhero to the big screen.”
Over the years, there have been a number of licensed CAPTAIN CANUCK products, including t-shirts, sweat shirts, doodle posters, etc. Canada Post issued a CAPTAIN CANUCK postage stamp in 1995. In addition, CAPTAIN CANUCK has also made the cover of TIME magazine.
Creator Comely said: “I’ve had a great beginning with Minds Eye.
I’m confident we can make a movie that will appeal to audiences both in Canada and around the world.”
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