'Green Hornet' Flies to Movie Screens

Columbia Pictures announced today that it has optioned the rights to the 'Green Hornet' with the intention of adapting the story for the big screen.

The 'Green Hornet' is a classic crime-fighting hero whose adventures have been chronicled for generations on radio, TV, and in comic books.

Columbia Pictures will adapt the 'Green Hornet' into a movie that will be produced by Neal H. Moritz and Original Film. The announcement came from Matt Tolmach and Doug Belgrad, presidents of production for Columbia Pictures.

Columbia acquired the rights via Moritz who got them from Green Hornet Inc.

"I couldn't be more thrilled to be developing this world renowned property with the people who brought Spider-Man to the screen. I can't imagine a studio better equipped or more prepared to handle this kind of material than Sony," Moritz said. "With the radio show, television program, comic books, and novels, there is ample source material to bring this classic crime-fighter to life."

Moritz was always a huge fan of the TV show growing up and has spent the past year trying to acquire the rights.

"I've been waiting, waiting, waiting for long time," Moritz said. "From the first time I saw that show, I just loved it. I loved the characters. And I love the idea of a guy who is indebted to another guy for life because (the latter) saved his life."

The 'Green Hornet' debuted on January 31, 1936 on WXYZ in Detroit. It was created by the station's George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, who also created the Lone Ranger. The radio series ran until 1952 on the Mutual and NBC Blue networks.

The story followed the adventures of Britt Reid, a bored playboy whose life is changed after inheriting his father's newspaper, the Daily Sentinel. He ends up saving the life of a Japanese man named Kato who has great martial arts skills. Kato becomes Britt's closest ally, and transforms Britt's car into the Black Beauty. The Black Beauty gave the duo an edge as they search for evidence to expose the city's dark underbelly in the newspaper.

Eventually Britt and Kato witness a mob hit, and Britt invents his secret identity as the Green Hornet.