Akiva Goldsman ('The Da Vinci Code') will oversee a writers room to develop the universe of the characters from the expansive library.

In a splashy press conference at the Carlton hotel in Cannes, Ghost Rider producer Steven Paul announced Thursday that he has acquired a majority interest in the Atlas Comics library and signed a co-production and co-financing first-look deal with Paramount Pictures to develop, produce and distribute superhero films based on the comic books. Paul’s SP Media Group has also signed a deal with Akiva Goldsman (Batman Forever, The Da Vinci Code, I Am Legend) and his Weed Road Pictures to oversee a writers room — nine strong — to develop and build out the universe of characters from the expansive Atlas library. Production on the first project is scheduled to begin during the second quarter of 2020 with a release expected in 2021. The companies intend to produce and release at least one superhero project each year thereafter. The films will be produced by Paul, whose credits also include the Ghost Rider sequel and Ghost in the Shell; Goldsman; and Atlas production president Spike Seldin (The A-Team).

Jon Voight was on hand for the press conference and talked about the importance of comic books in his early life growing up in Yonkers, New York, where he would sneak off from a job to read the latest. The actor said he will be involved in Paul’s venture, noting that “Steven will let me poke around and make suggestions … and maybe play a villain.” Paul acquired the stake from its owner Nemesis Group and principal Jason Goodman, grandson of Martin Goodman, who was founder of Marvel Comics, which was later run by Martin’s cousin Stan Lee. “We’re still counting the characters,” said Paul, as he addressed the audience in front of a dozen blown-up Atlas covers including Tiger-Man, Sgt. Stryker’s Death Squad and Devilina. “Marvel has 4,700. I want to be up there.”