BBC to Produce Peter Panzerfaust Motion Comic, Live Action Series

This news hit this week, and I couldn’t be happier.

The Image Comic’s series Peter Panzerfaust has been picked to be produced into multi platforms by BBC Worldwide Publications! I have read the first few issues of the series, and it is amazing! This will be a great addition to BBC! Here is the official word from BBC:

BBC Worldwide Productions Flies into Historical Fantasy
With Peter Panzerfaust Multi-Platform Series

Los Angeles, CA – October 11, 2012 – BBC Worldwide Productions and Quality Transmedia announced today that they will be producing a historical fantasy motion comic series based on the best-selling comic book “Peter Panzerfaust”. The companies have secured rights to the title and will initially be producing the series for digital release, while concurrently working to develop “Panzerfaust” as a live action scripted series. The project will be executive produced by BBC Worldwide Productions’ Senior Vice President of Scripted, Julie Gardner (Da Vinci’s Demons, Doctor Who, Torchwood), BBC Worldwide Productions’ Vice President of Digital, Dan Tischler (Gigi: Almost American; Torchwood: Web of Lies) and Quality Transmedia’s Jeff Krelitz.

“Panzerfaust,” by Kurtis J. Weibe and Tyler Jenkins, is a contemporary reimagining of the classic J.M. Barrie tale, “Peter Pan”. The ongoing comic book series, published by Image Comics, premiered last spring.  In “Panzerfaust,” Peter is an American freedom fighter in Nazi-occupied Europe at the outset of World War II.  He partners with the Lost Boys, a ragtag group of orphans, to combat the Nazi threat, led by SS Captain Haken (aka Captain Hook).

“Panzerfaust was instantly appealing our team with its unique mixture of real historical elements combined with classic Peter Pan mythology,” commented Dan Tischler, VP, Digital, BBC Worldwide Productions. “This clever take on such an iconic story offers us an opportunity to take a comprehensive cross-platform approach to development, with the motion comic series being the ideal entry point to bring the concept to life.”

“When I read the material, I immediately knew the innovative and creative sensibilities of BBC Worldwide Productions would make them the perfect partner for this project,” said Quality Transmedia head, Jeff Krelitz.  “This represents a fresh and smart way to explore the material and I’m looking forward to bringing Peter Panzerfaust to audiences through a variety of mediums.”

The motion comic format combines elements of comic book art, animation and voice over narration to bring the static comic book pages to life on screen.  The format has gained popularity in recent years as a unique alternative to traditional animation with a distinct storytelling aesthetic of its own. This is the second collaboration for Jeff Krelitz and BBC Worldwide Productions, who previously worked together on “Torchwood: Web of Lies,” a companion prequel to “Torchwood: Miracle Day”.

About BBC Worldwide Productions
BBC Worldwide Productions is one of five core businesses under BBC Worldwide America, the U.S. division of the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), BBC Worldwide. Led by Jane Tranter, BBC Worldwide Productions is based in Los Angeles and develops and produces scripted and non-scripted projects for U.S. cable and broadcast networks, as well as digital platforms. The production company is responsible for various titles currently on air and in production including Criminal Justice (HBO), Getting On (HBO), Top Gear (HISTORY), Torchwood: Miracle Day (Starz) Breaking Pointe (CW), Richard Hammond’s Crash Course (BBC AMERICA),  What Not to Wear (TLC), The Week the Women Went (Lifetime) and the cultural phenomenon, Dancing with the Stars (ABC).

About Quality Transmedia
Quality Transmedia is multiplatform entertainment venture with projects in the film, television, and digital spaces.  Founded in 2012 by Double Barrel Motion Labs CEO, Jeff Krelitz, QT focuses on branded entertainment it can incubate in the digital space and shift to broadcast and film.  Since its founding earlier this year, QT has set up a distribution output deal with Starz Digital Media and is creating online series for networks like Fox’s IGN with their video game stunt show, “Game Over.”  QT is currently developing animated adaptations of Fall Out Boy’s rock opera, “Fall Out Toyworks” and Dean Koontz’s “Nevermore.” Previous productions include work on other prominent properties including “Spartacus” with Starz, “Tron: Legacy” with Disney, and a “Dr. Who” motion comic for BBC America.