--- description: Gordon's alive! A big-screen adaptation of the 1930s comic strip is on the way from "Star Trek 3" writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay title: A "Flash Gordon" movie is in the works image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8c675b5078280059/69868c0f55a85984fca8077d/flash-gordon.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [movies](/tag/movies/) ## movies Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # _Flash Gordon_ Movie In The Works by [Megan Gibson](/author/megan-gibson/) ## Megan Gibson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 23, 2014 2:20 PM CUT  American athlete and actor Buster Crabbe in the title role of 'Flash Gordon', 1936. American athlete and actor Buster Crabbe in the title role of 'Flash Gordon', 1936.Silver Screen Collection—Getty Images by [Megan Gibson](/author/megan-gibson/) ## Megan Gibson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 23, 2014 2:20 PM CUT Twentieth Century Fox have attained the rights to the screen version of the comic book. John Davis will produce while _Star Trek 3_ writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay are also on board. Read more at Twentieth Century Fox have attained the rights to the screen version of the comic book. John Davis will produce while _Star Trek 3_ writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay are also on board. There are currently no actors attached to the project. Read more at It looks like we can add _Flash Gordon_ to the glut of action heroes getting the big screen treatment. Twentieth Century Fox has picked up the film rights for the comic strip hero, according to [The Hollywood _Reporter_](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/flash-gordon-movie-works-at-698291 "undefined"), with _Star Trek 3_ writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay signed on to write the script. In the original story, Flash was a polo player who was kidnapped by a mad scientist and taken to the planet Mongo, which was ruled by Ming the Merciless. Though he was first created as a comic strip in 1934 by Alex Raymond, Flash has had many lives over the past century, appearing in many spin-off comics and television series. Most notably was the campy 1980 movie adaptation starring Timothy Dalton, Max von Sydow, Chaim Topol and Sam Jones and a soundtrack by Queen. According to [_THR_](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/flash-gordon-movie-works-at-698291 "undefined"), Fox isn’t the only studio who has been eyeing _Flash Gordon_ for an adaptation — not to mention a potential franchise — which isn’t at all surprising. At this point, it’s safe to assume that _all_ vintage action heros will soon be getting the Hollywood treatment. \[[The Hollywood](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/flash-gordon-movie-works-at-698291 "undefined")[ _Reporter_](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/flash-gordon-movie-works-at-698291 "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/73485/flash-gordon-movie/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/73485/flash-gordon-movie/"},"headline":"Flash Gordon Movie In The Works","datePublished":"2014-04-23T14:20:54.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-21T07:27:02.130Z","description":"Gordon's alive! 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