My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way has signed a deal which will see his comic book series adapted for the big screen, US media reports claim.

Way and comic book publisher Dark Horse have agreed terms with Universal for his graphic novel, The Umbrella Academy.

According to Deadline Hollywood, the picture house plans on fast-tracking the film's production – although a director has yet to be assigned to the project.

Scott Stuber is understood to have been signed up to produce the film, which has been branded "cool and sexy".

Way first spoke about his intentions to turn the comic book series into a movie in October.

But the singer, who was eyeing Alfonso Cuaron as a possible director, said he didn't want the film to become the new Harry Potter.

“The boy in this story is not a boy. He's 60 years old. He is an assassin. There's so much about him that is extremely violent. So that's why I don't want this to look like Harry Potter,” he said.

As previously reported, Way released the first of a six-issue second series to the comic book, entitled Dallas, on November 26th.

(by Jason Gregory)