Sam Worthington is headed back into space, though not for Avatar 2, at least not yet. Instead he’s signed on to star in Dan Dare, a movie based on the 1950s comic character created by Frank Hampson. In his original form Dan is a pilot of the Interplanet Space Fleet. It’s sort of like a British Buck Rogers and, presumably much like Tin Tin, people “over there” care about this character even though you’ve probably never heard of him.

The stories sent Dan Dare on complex, lengthy adventures to planets full of extraterrestrials. The style of the comics is described as being like British war movies of the 1950s, full of snappy one-liners and gallant heroes. Though it first appeared in comics the character has also shown up in radio programs and even a TV series.

No word yet on who else might be involved, aside from Worthington. Only that the thing is a go, with Warner Bros. close to securing all the rights they need to the project, and likely eager to get Sam Worthington back out amongst the stars before James Cameron gets around to making another Avatar.