In July 2004, financier OddLot Entertainment acquired the rights to the film. OddLot's producers Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete began a collaboration with Uslan, Melniker, and Maier working at Batfilm Productions, to adapt the story. Eisner, who was protective of the rights to his creations, said that he believed in the producers to faithfully adapt "The Spirit". In April 2005, comic-book writer Jeph Loeb was hired to adapt "The Spirit" for the big screen, but the writer eventually left the project. Later in April, Uslan approached Frank Miller at Will Eisner's memorial service in New York City several weeks after Miller's "Sin City" was released in theaters, interested in initiating the adaptation technique with Miller's film for "The Spirit". Miller had initially hesitated, doubting his skill in adapting "The Spirit", but ultimately embraced his first solo project as writer-director. Miller described his decision-making: