MUMBAI: Columbia Pictures has acquired the rights to develop the independent comic book The Boys into a motion picture for producer Neal H Moritz of Original Film.

The comic book series, created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, is set in a contemporary world very similar to our own, with one notable exception: the number of people having some form of superpower is far superior. The series follows a CIA squad, known informally as The Boys, whose job it is to keep watch on superheroes and, if necessary, intimidate or eliminate them.

The Boys is one of the top-selling independent comics. Ennis, the co-creator of The Boys, is best known as the co-creator of the highly-influential and bestselling comic series Preacher, which is currently being adapted for HBO.

Columbia Pictures president Matt Tolmach says, “Garth and Darick have created an intense, intriguing series and we’re thrilled to be adapting The Boys for the big screen."

Moritz says, "The Boys is an entirely original take on the superhero story – rather than begin with a romantic idea of superheroes out to save the world, The Boys imagines a world in which superheroes really exist, with all of the flaws that real people have. The Boys are there to make sure that people with superhuman powers don’t get out of line."

The comic book is published by Dynamite Entertainment. Rights were initially optioned by Kickstart Comic Art Studios. Kickstart’s Jason Netter, and NightSky Entertainment's Ken F Levin will produce the film with Moritz.