One of Scotland’s most popular comic book writers – and the mastermind behind several hit movies – has become patron of the bid to bring a cinema back to Montrose.
Mark Millar has agreed to become patron of the Montrose Playhouse Project, which wants to turn the Angus town’s former swimming pool into a cinema.
The group behind the project will need to raise £4.2 million to demolish the pool and create the new four-screen cinema.
The centre will also have a conference space, meeting rooms, rentable office units, a cafe bar and a private cinema bar.
The group said: “We are delighted to announce that Mr Mark Millar, the best selling writer of the Kick-Ass series and Wanted has agreed to be our first patron of the Montrose Playhouse Project.
“Mark has links to Montrose as well as family living here and was delighted to be asked to a part of our venture.”
Mark Millar has written a host of best-selling comics including Kick-Ass, Wanted, Superior and THe Secret Service.
Kick-Ass and its sequel, Wanted and The Secret Service, renamed Kingsman: The Secret Service, have all been adapted into movies, while Superior is currently being filmed.
His landmark series for Marvel Comic Civil War is being filmed as the new Captain America while his series The Ultimates helped inspire the Avengers movies.
He is working on the second volumes of Jupiter’s Legacy, Jupiter’s Circle, and Chrononauts plus the upcoming new series Empress.
Mark has been an executive producer on all his movie adaptations and is creative consultant to Fox Studios on their Marvel slate of movies, which includes the X-Men and the forthcoming Deadpool.
David Paton, from the Montrose Playhouse Project, said the writer became involved when they were collecting items for their “Moscars” Oscar-night fundraising event.
“I was having coffee with my friend Patricia Winton and she mentioned her cousin was a graphic novelist and then mentioined his name, which I knew from Kick-Ass,” he said.
“I asked if he could maybe donate a signed book, which he agreed to do and then Patricia said we should suggest becoming patron.”
Mr Millar has already helped judge a design competition for a new mural that will be created at the cinema.
Mr Paton added: “In both the Marvel and DC (comic book) universes he is an absolutely huge character and to have his experiences and contacts helping us will be hugely beneficial.
“He has links to the town because he used to come here as a boy so it is great that he is helping us.”