According to Deadline, Deadpool & Wolverine writer Zeb Wells is set to bring the classic hero Buck Rogers back to the big screen in a new sci-fi adventure film.
The long-running space opera has been around for decades, but had a peak in popularity during the 1970s with the television show Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Since then, there hasn’t been much attention. But Legendary has hired Wells to write a new screenplay based on his success with the latest Marvel Deadpool movie.
Read on to find out what you need to know about the writer, the project, and how this could lead to the future of entertainment.
Who is Zeb Wells?
Zeb Wells is a voice actor, director, screenwriter, and comic book writer. In addition to being a writer, director, and voice actor for the Adult Swim animated series Robot Chicken, he is well-known for his writing for Marvel Comics on Amazing Spider-Man and New Mutants.
He’s also been a writer for Marvel movies like the aforementioned Deadpool & Wolverine, as well as Thor: Love and Thunder and The Marvels. He also wrote for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Marvel Zombies.
The Legacy of Buck Rogers
Buck Rogers was created by Philip Francis Nowlan and made his debut in Armageddon – 2419 A.D., a novella that debuted in the pulp magazine Amazing Stories in 1929. The main character is a World War I veteran who, after becoming trapped in a collapsed coal mine in Pennsylvania and breathing in radioactive gas, ends up in suspended animation for about five hundred years. Rogers is pulled into a conflict with foreign invaders when he awakens in the twenty-fifth century.
After his debut, Buck Rogers appeared in newspapers in the 25th century A.D. through the comic strip of the same name. The franchise later grew through radio and film serials, such as Universal’s 1939 serial starring Buster Crabbe, NBC’s Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, starring Gil Gerard. several comic book and novel adaptations, and a successful merchandise run.
There were plans back in 2021 to make a television series starring George Clooney, but it never made it past the planning stages.
Science fiction movies have become more and more popular. If it succeeds, it could introduce a new franchise for audiences based on an existing property that is unknown to most audiences, keeping it fresh.
What We Know About the New Film
Details about the film haven’t been released, and given how early it is in development, there’s probably not much to share.
Legendary has had a great year and can afford to take risks. The live-action/animated hybrid Animal Friends, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s new film starring Tom Cruise, Kitao Sakurai’s Street Fighter, and Dune: Part Three are among Legendary’s plans for the upcoming year, following the huge success of A Minecraft Movie, one of the year’s highest-grossing films with over $957 million worldwide.
With Zeb Wells at the helm, the new Buck Rogers film is likely to blend high-octane sci-fi action with sharp, witty dialogue. We can expect a modern, character-driven take on the classic hero, where Buck’s adventures are thrilling but also infused with humor and emotional depth. Wells’ knack for balancing explosive action with clever, self-aware moments could make the reboot feel fresh and contemporary, appealing both to longtime fans of the franchise and newcomers discovering Buck Rogers for the first time.
Legendary picked up the rights back in 2020 and has expressed an interest in turning Buck Rogers into the merchandising juggernaut that it once was. They have plans for a live-action and anime series.
While plot and casting details remain under wraps and no release date has been announced, the reboot aims to honor Buck Rogers’ iconic legacy while introducing contemporary storytelling, humor, and action for a new generation of fans.
What do you hope to see in the new Buck Rogers reboot—classic adventure, modern twists, or a mix of both? Let us know in the comments below!
(Via Deadline)
