Marvel holding a Job Fair for Writers?

OK, so Marvel isn’t “really” holding a job fair, but they are seeking out new writers to help in adapting more of their many character rights. It seems Marvel has done so well, they want to bring even more of their property to the big screen. Imagine that?

Marvel has more than 5,000 heroes and villains in it’s massive library, so they’ve decided to go looking for new writers to help take on the daunting task of bring more of these stories to life.

Marvel will invite up to five writers each year to work on specific projects, said a source familiar with the deal. Those could include staffers behind Marvel’s comicbooks. Tenpercenteries around town are currently pitching potential candidates with writing samples. — Variety

Marvel hopes that having this pool of creative talent will help them to develop ways in which to feature lesser-known properties, such as Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, Cable, Black Panther, Nighthawk and Vision. Marvel was pleasantly surprised when ‘Iron Man’ scored $582 million worldwide, proving comic books smaller than Spider-Man and Batman can become successful movie franchises.

The writers group will be similar to that created by the fellowship program the Walt Disney Co. has been running since 1990.

Writers will receive a salary for the year. Disney fellows receive around $50,000. Marvel’s payment could double that. — Variety

Writers already working on existing or in-progress projects like ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Thor’ will not be part of this group. Marvel will own the rights to whatever the writers develop during that year and will have the option to continue or terminate their relationship with the writers after the first year. Recruiting has already begun and the group is expected to start brainstorming project ideas this year.

[source: Variety]