The First Purge director Gerard McMurray will step away from the world of dystopian horror and into the world of comic books, with the filmmaker tapped to helm Studio 8 and Warner Bros.’ upcoming adaptation of Black, which asks; in a world that already hates and fears them, what if only Black people had superpowers? Revealed by The Hollywood Reporter, Black will give up-and-comer Gerard McMurray the opportunity to not only play in the biggest genre of modern moviemaking but also comment on some contemporary issues along the way.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the adaptation of Black “will center on a young man who discovers his powers after surviving a violent crime. He soon finds himself in the middle of a war over the future of humanity in a world in which a secret society seeks to control the empowered and their abilities.” It sounds like it will stick very closely to the comic book source material.

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Black marks a significant development in Gerard McMurray’s career as a director. The young up-and-comer has so far directed the likes of The First Purge, as well as episodes of The Twilight Zone and The Spook Who Sat by the Door. McMurray was also a producer on director Ryan Coogler’s critically acclaimed Fruitvale Station, starring Michael B. Jordan.

Black Asks the Question ‘What If Only Black People Had Superpowers?’

     Black Mask Studios

Published in 2017 and created by Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith, Black asks the question; in a world that already hates and fears them, what if only Black people had superpowers? The story begins when teenager Kareem Jenkins miraculously survives being gunned down by police. Soon, the young man learns that he is part of the biggest lie in history, and that he is one of 0.5% of black people with superpowers. Now, Kareem must decide whether it’s safer to keep it a secret or if the truth will set him free.

The project began life on Kickstarter, with creator Kwanza Osajyefo eventually raising over $90,000 via the platform. A movie adaptation was put into development back in October 2020, with Studio 8 CEO Jeff Robinov saying at the time that “Black represents a new generation of storytellers and creators who can accurately tell black stories with the type of care the industry has lacked for decades. The thought-provoking concept caught our attention early on, and we’re proud to play a role in bringing this story to the screen.”

Black does not yet have a release date.