‘Project Power’: Is the New Netflix Movie Based on a Comic Book?

Project Power is the latest star-studded film to hit Netflix. Starring Jamie Foxx, the movie tells the story of a mysterious man who vows to stop the spread of drug that gives users temporary superpowers. The story sounds like it was ripped straight out of Marvel or DC, which is why fans are wondering if Project Power is based on a comic book.

What is ‘Project Power’ about?

An unconventional superhero story, Project Power is centered on a mysterious drug that is being pushed on the streets of New Orleans. As users begin to learn that the drug can give them unique superhuman abilities, some criminals start using it to their advantage. 

“The catch: You don’t know what will happen until you take it,” the Netflix synopsis for the film reads. “While some develop bulletproof skin, invisibility, and super strength, others exhibit a deadlier reaction. But when the pill escalates crime within the city to dangerous levels, a local cop (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) teams with a teenage dealer (Dominique Fishback) and a former soldier fueled by a secret vendetta (Jamie Foxx) to fight power with power and risk-taking the pill in order to track down and stop the group responsible for creating it.”

Is ‘Project Power’ based on a comic book?

With its superhuman storylines, Project Power certainly seems like it could be based on a comic book or graphic novel. But the film is actually the brainchild of Mattson Tomlin, a screenwriter who developed the script which was bought by Netflix in 2017. 

Tomlin doesn’t have an extensive movie or comic book resume. But he is co-writing the upcoming Robert Pattinson film, The Batman, with writer/producer/director Matt Reeves.

The screenwriter was inspired by comic book stories

Project Power may not be based on a comic book. But in an interview with Forbes, Tomlin revealed that he found inspiration for the film in various superhero stories he enjoys. 

“I started to think in terms of, ‘What’s a movie that I would really want to see?'” said Tomlin. “Not necessarily what I’m dying to write as a personal piece, but what are the genres that are really working right now? I love superhero films and I love superpowers and I love comic books, so that felt like a place that I wanted to start.”

The screenwriter said that he knew the story clicked when he came up with the character of Robin, played by Dominique Fishback in the film. “It wasn’t until I came up with her as kind of the heart and soul of the movie, that I was then able to put it in someplace that was personal and saying things about real life,” he added. 

At the end of the day, Tomlin said he hopes Project Power will be the summer superhero treat audiences have been craving.  “It feels like the big summer blockbuster popcorn movie that we missed out on for the summer of 2020,” he suggested. “I really hope that it can fill that hole for a lot of people and that this [serves as] a good time at the movies, even if you’re at home.”

Project Power is currently streaming on Netflix.