Ava DuVernay is adding a new comic series to her filmography: DC’s Naomi, a teenage superhero from an alternate universe, the daughter of another superhuman with god-like powers.
Deadline reports that DuVernay is developing the series along with Arrow writer and co-producer Jill Blankenship, and will help write and serve as executive producer.
The character first appeared in 2019’s Naomi #1, written by Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walked and illustrated Jamal Campbell. The comic follows Naomi McDuffie, who comes from a parallel world, in which 29 people were imbued with superpowers (the result of environmental destruction and pollution). There was a war between superpowered factions and they eventually came to a truce. When a supervillain tried to kill her, her parents sent her to our Earth in the Prime Universe.
She grows up without knowing her backstory, and eventually discovers her powers—she can transform into a powerful form, project energy, fly, and has incredible strength.
On Twitter, DuVernay confirmed the news, saying that she’s excited for the project.
https://twitter.com/ava/status/1334974511553245185
DuVernay is no stranger to speculative fiction: while she’s earned considerable critical acclaim for her films I Will Follow, Selma, and 13th, she directed a big-budget version of A Wrinkle in Time, and has been tapped to direct a New Gods film, with writer Tom King set as her co-writer. She’s also heading up an adaptation of the comic series DMZ, which was recently picked up for a series by HBO Max.
