I would like to write a script based on two comic book characters. I plan to research the characters and stay true to who they are without changing anything about them. My question is could I do this or do I have to get permission from DC Comics and Dark Horse first?
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I'm pretty sure you can go write ahead. But of course, you have to go through them when you're done, so that you can pitch it, and (hopefully, in your case) get it sanctioned. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but generally speaking it seems writing based on an established property to prove oneself is taken as a given. It's one of those little hypocrisies of the business, because technically you're writing fan fiction, (which many tend to look down on) but as long as you're offering it to them as a "speculative" piece it's not only "okay," it's "yeah of course." Even though, technically it should be a violation of copyright either way, (if you're so strict that you believe fan-fic is, anyway) they'd rather not challenge people offering them a way to earn money.
A good example of a similar situation is this monstrosity:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGnVhqhmip8
The creator, a relatively successful film and TV director, put together friends of his - who are actors - and independently produced this short as a pitch to WB. Again, if you're kind of a Nazi about it, he's "not allowed" to do that. Warner Bros. didn't try to sue him, but they passed on it. Then it was "leaked" online, and got over a million YouTube hits, and suddenly the guy is golden in the eyes of the WB again. But fan chatter, and a faulty web series, tore up his golden ticket, I guess. Because he's not attached anymore. The point is this guy made his fan film, and he almost directed a(nother) movie because of it. It's really not surprising, you're entering a creative medium that thrives on established franchises, proving you can be creative with an established franchise would be a pretty good place to start.
I at least know that it's required in TV, although it seems to be an accepted fact that the episode you write will not get made, even if it's good, and "shouldn't" be written for the show you want to write on. But something similar instead. -Because, something, something, legal business...
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There's no such thing as the establishment. Everyone knows that!
Thanx for all the info Bioparadoxous. I'm gonna get to work on writing it soon.
http://bugman2010.tripod.com/thebugspot/