uMedia to bring epic sci-fi graphic novel Universal War One to big screen
News dated from May 18, 2012
CANNES. UNIVERSAL WAR ONE, one of Europe’s top-selling sci-fi graphic novels is now being developed into a major motion picture by uMedia, the mini studio behind multi-Oscar®-winner The Artist, A Monster in Paris and upcoming thriller The Expatriate starring Aaron Eckhart.
Published by Marvel in the US and Soleil Productions in France, UNIVERSAL WAR ONE comes from the mind of Paris born author and artist Denis Bajram and has built a huge international cult following. uMedia is now converting the 6-part graphic novel into a major feature length live-action space epic north of $40 million.
Published in a number of different languages including English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese, UNIVERSAL WAR ONE is fast-paced and brutal in its depiction of a future where, in the midst of a latent civil war between the core planets and outlying planetary settlements, an immense wall has cut the solar system in two. Known as The Wall, this gigantic and terrifying barrier absorbs all light and matter. A band of disgraced officers waiting for court martial are sent to investigate. After breaching it, they are fired upon by a vessel of unknown origin. The United Earth Forces orders its Third Fleet into the wall, and thus begins the first decision of Universal War One: save the Earth, save humanity, or save themselves...
Adrian Politowski, CEO of uMedia, says the series of graphic novels has never had a better moment to be delivered as a major blockbuster – “The huge success of UNIVERSAL WAR ONE resides in its strong, fast-paced narrative following a Dirty Dozen-esque band of crack soldiers as they embark on a deadly mission into deep space enemy territory. Tent pole titles such as Prometheus and Avatar are proving that Sci-fi features are more popular than ever with today’s global audiences.”
Denis Bajram adds, “For years I refused to accept proposals from those who wanted to make Universal War One. With uMedia, I finally found enthusiasts who understand the key to the success of my comic. UW1 has the potentialto be a blockbuster but it retains the true heart of the author. It harbours the ability to be both an intimate psychological narrative and super scale disaster movie simultaneously. I'm sure that together with uMedia we will succeed in translating this cosmic balance on the big screen.”
• written by Denis Bajram • translated by Paul Benjamin • penciled by Denis Bajram • cover by Denis Bajram
The last survivors of the Purgatory squadron reach the end of their terrifying journey knowing who destroyed the Earth and why. The answers to these questions will haunt them forever. The Industrial Colonization Companies have done the unthinkable and irreparable by destroying the crib of humanity and its twenty billion inhabitants. Lost in this nightmarish future the Purgatory fleet will discover that their journey is only part of a terrifying vicious cycle. No matter what action they took, humanity was doomed. Will the first universal war ever come to an end?
Price: 5.99 In stores: June 3, 2009 Format: COMIC Rating: MAX: EXPLICIT CONTENT
• written by Denis Bajram • translated by Paul Benjamin • penciled by Denis Bajram • cover by Denis Bajram
The Earth has been annihilated. Forever. Now the Purgatory Squadron knows who its enemies are, but can they defeat a foe willing to murder twenty billion people? The survivors of the Purgatory Squadron land in a world without hope. Welcome to the worst imaginable future. Welcome to the first universal war.
Price: 5.99 In stores: May 6, 2009 Format: COMIC Rating: MAX: EXPLICIT CONTENT
• written by Denis Bajram • translated by Paul Benjamin • penciled by Denis Bajram • cover by Denis Bajram
The Purgatory Squadron’s survivors have done the impossible: By traveling through time, they’ve shut down the impenetrable Wall that cut the solar system in two. In doing so, they’ve discovered that the rebellious Colonization Industrial Companies have hidden a satellite in Earth's orbit that could destroy the planet just as the CIC eradicated Uranus. But the Purgatory Squadron has a trump card. Now stranded three days in their own past, they just might be able to return to Earth without notice. That gives the team of outcasts and criminals three days to stop a cataclysm that could bring about the first universal war.
Price: 5.99 In stores: April 1, 2009 Format: COMIC Rating: MAX: EXPLICIT CONTENT
• written by Denis Bajram • translated by Paul Benjamin • penciled by Denis Bajram • cover by Denis Bajram
The English adaptation of the European best-seller continues! When THE WALL appeared, it cut the solar system in half. It was vast. Dark. Unfathomable. The Purgatory squadron managed to break through, but only at the cost of one of their own. And when the survivors destroy the Wall, they disappear along with it. In the heart of their sci-fi odyssey, destiny will give them a chance to rewrite their own dark histories. Could they undo the events that led to the First Universal War?
Price: 5.99 In stores: September 3, 2008 Format: COMIC Rating: MAX: EXPLICIT CONTENT
uMedia to bring epic sci-fi graphic novel Universal War One to big screen 
