Stan Lee's next superhero Monkey Master will be based on 'Chinese and Indian myth'

Marvel writer Stan Lee and comics veteran Sharad Devarajan have reunited to develop a new superhero that they intend will head straight to the big screen. Their new protagonist, Monkey Master, will "interweave Chinese and Indian myth to create a hero that will entertain fans across the world with his martial arts skills and unstoppable superpowers", Lee revealed recently.

According to Variety, the film will feature a whole host of international actors, particularly Chinese and Indian. It will be primarily aimed at the Chinese market too, but will eventually roll out for a wider release globally. Currently there is no word as to when it will reach cinemas but shooting will reportedly begin towards the end of 2017.

Monkey Master is set to be a joint work between China's Shinework Pictures, Devarajan's Graphic India and Lee's POW! Entertainment. Indian production company Cinema Capital Advisory will also produce.

"I have always been fascinated by the Chinese and Indian cultures which are so philosophical and rich in tradition and morality," Lee – the man behind characters such as Spider-Man, Daredevil and Iron Man – said in a statement.

"The film is on a fast-track development course and our ideal would be to get into production in the fourth quarter of 2017," producer Gill Champion told the publication. "The shooting language would most likely be in English." While it's still early stages and no cast or director have been attached to the project yet, Champion did go on to suggest that it will likely be helmed by a western film-maker.

Lee isn't the only Marvel name looking to bring a Chinese superhero to cinemas either. Back in May, reports emerged that Captain America: Civil War directors Anthony and Joe Russo were heading east with their inspiration, helping create three films co-produced with Beijing-based Fangjin Media. The first movie entitled The Hero's Awakening will begin production later this year and arrive sometime in 2018, followed by respective sequels.

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