In what was maybe a most unexpected, although intriguing pairing, a Django/Zorro comic book was announced in June of this year, courtesy of Dynamite Entertainment and DC Entertainment, as well as Quentin Tarantino, Matt Wagner, and Reginald Hudlin.
This will serve as a sequel to the film "Django Unchained," which will see our cowboy with the fast draw, meet the legendary Zorro, in a story written and "co-plotted" by Tarantino, and Matt Wagner ("Mage," "Grendel," "The Shadow, Zorro"), while Reginald Hudlin (producer of "Django Unchained" the film), was to work closely with Tarantino and Wagner as editor.
"I’m very very excited about both this story and the opportunity to work with Matt. It was reading his Zorro stories that convinced me what a good idea it was to join these two icons together. And the story idea we came up with is thrilling, and I think will be an exciting new chapter for both characters," said Tarantino.
Added Wagner, "This project is an absolute thrill! When Quentin and I first met, it felt like we’d known each other for years. The give-and-take energy of our initial story sessions was just incredible! It’s a particular buzz to be writing Zorro once again…and especially to team him up with the magnetic lead character from Quentin’s most straight-up heroic movie, Django Unchained! The Wild West is never gonna be the same once these two come to town!"
"This series is the first time Quentin Tarantino explored the continuing adventures of one of the characters from his films," said Reggie Hudlin. "That he would do it in a comic book demonstrates his love and appreciation of the medium. Quentin is not just a comic collector – he’s got a spinner rack in his house!"
What Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci called "THE Cross-Over event of the year," is scheduled for a November 12, 2014 release.
You’re probably thinking what I’m thinking: movie adaptation next? Or maybe a single season event TV series. Imagine – Jamie Foxx back as Django, and Antonio Banderas revived, reprising his role as Zorro, 9 years after "The Legend of Zorro." It actually does sound eccentric enough, and something Tarantino would do.
While we wait for that to materialize (or not), our friends at Bleeding Cool have an exclusive first look at the comic book, including pages within, as well as an interview with co-creator Matt Wagner.
Above and below are covers for issue #1 of the comic. For the rest, and to go inside the comic, visit Bleeding Cool, here.
