Columbia Pictures has abandoned its planned adaptation of "The Boys," the violent superhero satire by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, Heat Vision reports. The project has been put into turnaround, meaning another studio could pick up the rights in exchange for development costs, plus interest.

Debuting in 2006 from DC Comics' WildStorm imprint, "The Boys" centers on a super-powered CIA squad tasked with keeping a watch on superheroes, eliminating them if necessary. The title moved in 2007 to Dynamite Entertainment, where it continues to be published.

Columbia acquired the film rights in August 2008, and hired "Clash of the Titans" writers Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay, as well as Seth Rogen, to work on the screenplay.

Almost two years later, frequent Will Ferrell collaborator Adam McKay ("Anchorman," "Talladega Nights") came on board to direct and rewrite what he described in March 2011 as "a $100 million, rated-R, anti-superhero movie." At that point, he predicted he had about two weeks' worth of work left on his draft. However, aside from occasional casting rumblings -- Simon Pegg said in December he may be too old to play Wee Hughie -- there has been little talk of "The Boys" since.