Deadline is reporting that Lotus Entertainment and PaperChase Films are developing Superman vs. the KKK, an adaptation of Rick Bowers’ YA nonfiction book Superman Versus the Ku Klux Klan: The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate.
The book, published in 2012, chronicles the creation of a real-life 1946 radio drama in which Superman took on a thinly-veiled version of the actual Ku Klux Klan. The film adaptation will follow “a former Klan member who goes undercover in 1946 Atlanta and works with the Anti-Defamation League and the producer of the Superman radio show.”
“The themes of this true story fall right in line with the type of stories that inspired me to want to make movies in the first place,” said Lotus Entertainment Co-Chairman Bill Johnson. “We’re delighted to be partnering with PaperChase and are looking forward to a successful and enjoyable collaboration on this film with hopefully more to come in the future.”
“The story behind Superman vs. the KKK really struck a chord with me,” added Marco Vicini, who is producing the film. “Right away I knew I wanted to re-live it by being a part of the nonviolent resistance against oppression. It is a great honor to be able to embark on such a relevant and meaningful project with such a devoted and highly experienced team of like-minded individuals.”
