Star Danny McBride to pen comic book prequel to universal pictures' upcoming epic comedy adventure.
OCTOBER 7, NEW YORK, NY – Top comic book publisher Dark Horse Comics announced today at New York Comic Con that Danny McBride and Jeff Fradley will write a comic book prequel to Universal Pictures’ upcoming Your Highness, an epic comedy adventure starring Danny McBride, James Franco, Natalie Portman and Zooey Deschanel from director David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express). Developed through a licensing agreement with Universal Partnerships & Licensing, this special comic book one-shot will arrive on shelves just before the film’s April 8, 2011, release.
Featuring two stories told over 48 pages and drawn by comic book superstars Sean Phillips and Paul Peart, fans will meet Prince Fabious as he battles a murderous cyclops and attempts to free a beautiful princess from her tower prison…while Prince Thadeous uses a diplomatic mission to the Highland Dwarves as an excuse to partake in their famous herb and become the life of the party. Both stories will lead directly into the events of the film.
About the Film
Throughout history, tales of chivalry have burnished the legends of brave, handsome knights who rescue fair damsels, slay dragons and conquer evil. But behind many a hero is a good-for-nothing younger brother trying just to stay out of the way of those dragons, evil and trouble in general. Danny McBride and James Franco team up for an epic comedy adventure set in a fantastical world—Your Highness. As two princes on a daring mission to save their land, they must rescue the heir apparent’s fiancée before their kingdom is destroyed.
Thadeous (McBride) has spent his life watching his perfect older brother Fabious (Franco) embark upon valiant journeys and win the hearts of his people. Tired of being passed over for adventure, adoration and the throne, he’s settled for a life of wizard’s weed, hard booze and easy maidens. But when Fabious’ bride-to-be, Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel), gets kidnapped by the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux), the king gives his deadbeat son an ultimatum: Man up and help rescue her or get cut off.
Half-assedly embarking upon his first quest, Thadeous joins Fabious to trek across the perilous outlands and free the princess. Joined by Isabel (Natalie Portman)—an elusive warrior with a dangerous agenda of her own—the brothers must vanquish horrific creatures and traitorous knights before they can reach Belladonna. If Thadeous can find his inner hero, he can help his brother prevent the destruction of his land. Stay a slacker, and not only does he die a coward, he gets front row seats to the dawn of an all-new Dark Ages.
About Universal Partnerships & Licensing
UP&L oversees Universal’s consumer product licensing, film and home entertainment promotions, and all corporate alliances for Universal’s theatrical, home entertainment, theme parks and stage productions. This dedicated division is also responsible for monetizing the studio’s vast library of films and characters through licensing, branding and marketing opportunities. UP&L is part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.