Variety reports that "The Mummy" & "Van Helsing" writer-director Stephen Sommers and his producing partner Bob Ducsay have landed the rights to Flash Gordon, and will adapt a feature film based on the iconic comic book superhero for Universal.

Sommers is producing the Flash project with an eye toward scripting; Sommers has yet to helm a project he hasn't scripted. "Flash Gordon" dates back to 1934, when it was created by famed comic strip artist Alex Raymond, and for decades after appeared in movie serials, animated fare, TV shows and a ultra camp 1980 feature helmed by Mike Hodges.

The Sommers Co., which has a first-look term deal with U, recently optioned the rights to Sarah Dunn's romantic adventure novel "The Big Love." However, that pic is something Sommers is interested in producing only, at least as of now.

Thanks to 'No, Not The Boor Worms'.