Brett Ratner bringing Youngblood and Fly Wires comics to the big screen

Reliance Big Entertainment has nabbed big screen rights to Rob Liefeld’s graphic novel Youngblood, with Brett Ratner attached to helm, according to Variety.

Youngblood follows the exploits of a group of superheroes sanctioned and overseen by the U.S. government.

“Most of the great graphic novels are gone, and Youngblood is one of the few comicbooks left with tentpole potential,” Ratner told Daily Variety. “It was a real personal passion project for me, and a lot of people wanted (Youngblood), but the amazing thing about the guys at Reliance is the speed with which they’re able to move.”

The report also says Reliance has also grabbed rights to a French graphic novel called Fly Wires for Ratner’s production company Rat Entertainment to adapt.

Ratner will produce that eventual film will be renamed Infinity, and has already contracted Sylvain White (I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, Stomp the Yard, Trois 3) to direct and John Collee (Master and Commander, Happy Feet) to pen the script.

Both of the projects are being fast-tracked.

Brett Ratner is also currently rumored to be attached to direct a new take on Conan the Barbarian, as well as a biopic on Frank Sinatra.

Sylvain White is currently in pre-production on Castlevania, an action horror that focuses on the origin of the eternal struggle between two opposing vampire clans. He is also adapting Vertigo Comic’s The Losers, which actor Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) just yesterday told ComingSoon.net, that he may be joining, as one of the lead characters.

John Collee recently co-scripted Guardians of Ga’Hoole, the animated fantasy adventure that Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) is directing.