BRIAN BLESSED - FLASH GORDON'S ALIVE AFTER SONY WINS BIDDING WAR

FLASH GORDON'S ALIVE AFTER SONY WINS BIDDING WAR

Sony Pictures Entertainment is to take Flash Gordon to the big screen for the first time in almost 30 years after winning the rights for the character.

The action hero, who debuted in a 1930s comic strip, could be revived on the silver screen in an adaptation directed by Sahara helmer Breck Eisner and produced by Neal Moritz.

According to Variety, Sony emerged as the victor after several studios attempted to buy the Flash Gordon rights from the Hearst Corporation.

Created by Alex Raymond, Flash Gordon was a polo player who after being kidnapped by eccentric scientist Dr Hans Zarkov and transported to the planet Mongo along with his paramour Dale Arden, is forced to battle the evil Ming the Merciless.

The character featured in three cinema serials in the 30s, with Buster Crabbe - who later played fellow action man Buck Rogers - in the title role.

While Flash starred in numerous TV series - including 80s animated favourite Defenders of the Earth - his most iconic screen outing was in 1980's Flash Gordon film, directed by Mike Hodges and starring Sam Jones.

The film's lurid design and melodramatic approach to the character have been overshadowed in popular memory by the Queen soundtrack for the film while Shakespearean actor Brian Blessed's appearance as Prince Vultan became one of his most famous roles.