Tag: David Leitch

'Button Man': David Leitch Developing Action-Thriller Series Based On Comic Book From 'Judge Dredd' Co-Creator With The Aim To Direct
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‘Button Man’: David Leitch Developing Action Thriller Series Based On Comic Book From ‘Judge Dredd’ Co-Creator With Aim To Direct

David Leitch‘s “The Fall Guy” is out in theaters, and the filmmaker is starting to line up a potential small screen project as a future directing gig. A report from Deadline has revealed that there are plans behind the scenes, but deals haven’t been made, for the rights for the comic book “Button Man” hailing from 2000 AD (British publisher of popular mature comic books such as “Rogue Trooper” and “Judge Dredd”) is being developed as a television series.

Fifth Season has acquired the comic from “Judge Dredd” co-creator John Wagner (“A History of Violence”) with 87North (Leitch and Kelly McCormick) hoping to get involved with the project that focuses on a collective of skilled killers that participate in a game to the death taking a page from properties like “Highlander,” “John Wick,” and “Battle Royale.”

Leitch is said in the report as eyeing “Button Man” as something he could direct if the stars align for him.

The official logline for the comic book via Amazon/2000 AD reads as follows:

The world didn’t seem to need a man like Harry Exton anymore. An ex-soldier and mercenary, Harry was a human-killing machine without a vocation until an old colleague told him about ‘The Game.’ The players, known as “Button Men” are paid to fight to the death in a modern-day gladiatorial contest. Organised by mysterious backers known as ‘Voices’, the killing game offers bountiful financial rewards… if you live. Harry decides to participate but soon discovers that death offers the only way out! The world didn’t seem to need a man like Harry Exton anymore. An ex-soldier and mercenary, Harry was a human-killing machine without a vocation, until an old colleague told him about ‘The Game’. The players, known as ‘Button Men’ are paid to fight to the death in a modern-day gladiatorial contest. Organised by mysterious backers known as ‘Voices’, the killing game offers bountiful financial rewards… if you live. Harry decides to participate but soon discovers that death offers the only way out! Written by John Wagner (Judge Dredd, A History of Violence) with art by Arthur Ranson (Anderson: Psi Division, Mazeworld), “Button Man” is an action-packed thriller, deservedly regarded as one of the greatest strips ever to be published in 2000 AD.

“Button Man” once started out as a feature film that Nicolas Winding Refn (“Drive”) was considering that bounced around from DreamWorks to Netflix.

Leitch has a first-look deal with Universal Pictures and has been trying to figure out his next directorial effort after exiting talks to tackle the latest installment of the “Jurassic” franchise before Gareth Edwards nabbed the job.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News, News

David Leitch In Early Negotiations To Direct ‘Jurassic World 4’ For Universal

There was a report last month that veteran screenwriter David Koepp (“Mission: Impossible“) would be returning to the “Jurassic” franchise after tackling the first two Steven Spielberg films in the 1990s and would be writing a script for “Jurassic World 4,” aka, “Jurassic Park 7.” Now, a director has been mentioned for being in the mix for the next big installment that is said to be moving on from the established cast (Giving the impression of a potential soft reboot).

Deadline has revealed that action director David Leitch (“Deadpool 2“) is in the mix to take on “Jurassic World 4,” as the stuntman-turned-director is in early negotiations with Universal. This possible hiring wouldn’t be all that shocking given that Leitch and Universal have a longtime relationship after working together on a string of films such as “Nobody,” “Atomic Blonde,” “Hobbs & Shaw,” “The Fall Guy,” and the upcoming feature film reboot of “Kung Fu” that stars Donnie Yen. He also has a first-look deal with Universal that was struck back in 2019, which could explain the recent streak with the studio.

UPDATE #2: Deadline has updated their original report that Leitch has passed on the project and that a director search is still underway. The filmmaker is still working alongside Universal for his upcoming remake of “Kung Fu” which has Donnie Yen (“John Wick 4”) attached to be the main star. In the report, the parting of ways was “amicable” as the two had different visions for the film penned by David Koepp (“Jurassic Park,” “Jurassic Park: The Lost World”). Given the film’s release date of July 2, 2025, it would indicate that Universal needs someone to get cameras rolling very soon.

UPDATE #1: Universal/Amblin has confirmed the July 2, 2025 release date which means the director confirmation and casting are likely coming together extremely soon with an expected 2024 shoot.

The question remains if the extremely busy Leitch will have the time in his schedule to make the dino flick since he’s expected to shoot “Kung Fu” next unless this project becomes the priority. “Jurassic World 4” eyeing a July 2, 2025 release date would suggest that it is so far along that production could begin this year.

Hopefully, with this early chatter of a soft reboot that the studio is aiming to push much further into the future where dinosaurs have started to outnumber humans taking a page from projects like “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Kingdom of The Planet of The Apes,” and “Cadillacs & Dinosaurs.” A time jump could help the franchise move past repetitiveness and staleness.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News, News

David Leitch & Universal’s Feature Film Reboot Of ‘Kung Fu’ Will Be Led By Veteran Action Star Donnie Yen

Universal Pictures and producer David Leitch have reportedly found their lead actor for a feature film reboot of the beloved martial arts western series “Kung Fu.” Deadline says that veteran action star and director Donnie Yen has been selected to lead the new incarnation. Yen, known for his martial arts abilities, has been a versatile actor moving between Hollywood, China, and Hong Kong productions throughout the last 20-plus years (working decades longer in Asian cinema before nabbing Hollywood parts) with his Western credits including “Blade 2,” “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “John Wick 4,” and “Shanghai Knights.” He’s likely most known for leading the “IP Man” franchise which focuses on a dramatized version of the life of the famous Wing Chun Master, who taught a young Bruce Lee in Hong Kong before he moved to California to pursue an acting career and opening his own martial arts school.

“Kung Fu” has a script penned by Stephen Chin (“War Dogs”) and Leitch is expected to potentially direct the martial arts film having an extensive stunt background himself. Some of the many projects Leitch has worked on in the past include the original “John Wick,” “Bullet Train,” “Hobbs & Shaw,” “Deadpool 2,” and the upcoming Ryan Gosling pic “The Fall Guy.” The latter film due to be released on May 3 is also a feature film based on an older television show.

The original series in retrospect is steeped in controversy as the legendary Bruce Lee saw “Kung Fu” as the perfect project to help transition into leading roles after having done supporting stuff including playing the sidekick Kato in the popular “Green Hornet” series in the 1960s. Instead, the main role would go to David Carradine, the son of veteran actor John Carradine, who had zero martial arts training at the time. Once Lee was passed over, the actor decided to return to Hong Kong where he originally started out as a child actor in movies such as “The Kid,” and created a new action persona for himself with “Enter The Dragon” before his untimely death in 1973 at the young age of 32. Launching a new wave of modern martial arts movies to counter The Shaw Brothers’ period films within the genre of wuxia that quickly became extremely popular in the West.

Some of the controversy stems from Carradine, a white actor, playing a Shaolin monk named Kwai Chang Caine. In the show, Caine’s European ancestry was explained with the character being an orphaned American boy living/raised in China who would leave the temple as a young man to wander the American West but obviously, the part was meant for an Asian actor. The series would eventually get a revival in the 1990s with a descendent of Caine navigating a modern New York City alongside his son, who worked for the NYPD, but like his father had also trained at the Shaolin temple.

More recently there was the CW series reboot starring Olivia Liang that ran from 2021-2023.

It’s unclear when “Kung Fu” will begin shooting but with Yen attached, the movie is now in great shape to go in front of cameras very soon. This isn’t the only big project Yen is expected to be looked at as there had been some chatter within Lionsgate that his “John Wick 4” character Caine could end up getting his own movie spinoff and he’s been attached for ages to a feature film adaptation of the cops vs. Triads video game “Sleeping Dogs.”

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

‘Bullet Train’: Channing Tatum Expected To Show Up In The New Brad Pitt Action Flick

Oscar-winner Brad Pitt (Troy, Inglourious Basterds, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) is stepping into a genre he dips his toe in from time-to-time, action. His upcoming film Bullet Train features a wave of assassins on a Tokyo bullet train, it was helmed by director David Leitch and there are claims that Pitt is doing a majority of his own stunts.

Bullet Train is based on the Kôtarô Isaka novel Maria Beetle with a script penned by Zak Olkewicz (Last Voyage of The Demeter).

The rest of the cast consists of Joey King (The Dark Knight Rises), Andrew Koji (G.I. Joe Origins: Snake Eyes), Michael Shannon (Knives Out, Man of Steel), Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock (Gravity, Speed), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Tenet, Kraven The Hunter, Godzilla, Kick-Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron), Karen Fukuhara (The Boys, Suicide Squad), Brian Tyree Henry (Godzilla vs Kong, Widows, Joker, Eternals), Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine, Avengers: Endgame, Sunshine, Westworld, The Last Samurai, Shogun), Logan Lerman (Gamer, Fury, Hunters), Masi Oka (Heroes), Zazie Beetz (Joker, Deadpool 2, Atlanta), and rapper Bad Bunny.

An IMDB listing The Ronin has spotted might suggest another casting addition, with Lucas Hyde doing body double work in Bullet Train for actor Channing Tatum (The Hateful Eight, 21 Jump Street, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, This Is The End, Free Guy) in the role of “Burly Man.” Hyde also recently worked on the film Dog which is co-directed by Tatum and longtime partner Reid Carolin.

Sandra Bullock (plays Maria Beetle in Bullet Train) and Channing Tatum recently shot The Lost City of D, that just happens to reportedly feature a cameo from Brad Pitt.

David Leitch is quickly becoming action film royalty as he co-directed the original John Wick only to move on as a solo filmmaker with credits such as Charlize Theron’s Atomic Blonde, Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw, and his next project is the memory loss thriller Fast & Loose starring Oscar-winner Will Smith. He also produced Bob Odenkirk’s Nobody and Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Kate at Netflix, which both came out in 2021.

Bullet Train will hit theaters on April 8, 2022 and we’ll be excited to get some first-look footage/images in the near future.

SOURCE: IMDB

Posted on in Film News, News

Jason Momoa Has Spoken To ‘Dune’ Co-Star Dave Bautista About Making A Buddy Cop Movie Set In Hawaii: “It Sells Itself, Bro”

Last week, actor Dave Bautista made a pitch on Twitter about making a buddy cop movie, similar to Lethal Weapon, with pal Jason Momoa and directed by David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, Bullet Train, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw). Bautista and Momoa have been working together recently on projects like Dune and the Apple TV+ series See.

“Just going to throw this out into the atmosphere and see what happens. Here we go…me and Momoa in a ‘Lethal Weapon’-type buddy cop movie directed by David Leitch. Ok! There it is. Now we wait.”

Momoa has now given a bit of an update while speaking with James Cordon on The Late Late Show, suggesting that he’s down for it and mentioned that Bautista wants to make it Hawaii.

“He literally texted me four days ago, going, ‘We need to do a buddy cop film. We love each other. We are on See and Dune together.’ And I said, ‘Absolutely.’ And he said, ‘Let’s do it in Hawaii.’ And I said, ‘Let’s do it. I have an idea.’ So it’s off to the races now. We’re doing it.”

“It sells itself, bro. Dave loves wearing Speedos. I love wearing board shorts. And both of us with our shirts off. He’ll be grumpy and I’ll be charming. Boom. It sells itself, bro. I have the hair. He doesn’t have hair. We cover all the demographics.”

When this could happen seems to be the question, as Leitch is about to shoot his Will Smith thriller Fast & Loose. Bautista is about to begin shooting James Gunn’s Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.3 in November and Momoa is currently involved with James Wan’s Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom. There is an expectation that Bautista will return for Dune: Part Two, Denis Villeneuve recently teasing a fall 2022 production start.

Anyways, it’s a rad idea and with the write script/director could be a fun time.

SOURCE: THE LATE LATE SHOW

Posted on in Film News, News, Television News

Andrew Koji Says ‘Bullet Train’ Set Was Claustrophobic & Season 3 Of ‘Warrior’ Aims To Start Shooting Spring 2022

Paramount Pictures is releasing a new origin film set within the G.I. Joe franchise with Crazy Rich Asians lead Henry Golding is playing a young version of Snake Eyes. The action blockbuster is about to hit theaters and Storm Shadow actor Andrew Koji is during the press tour to promote the G.I. Joe reboot.

While speaking with Collider, the British actor confirms that the third season of his martial arts series Warrior won’t begin shooting until the spring of 2022 and will wrap sometime around that summer.

He also briefly spoke about what it was like shooting the Brat Pitt assassin flick Bullet Train during the pandemic and the claustrophobic set brought on action scenes on film that mainly takes place on speeding train along with the mask/face shield they were required to wear.

“Yeah, it’s very different. It’ tight, it’s very claustrophobic. Also, we shot it all during COVID times. It’s going to be one of them few big blockbuster films that was made purely during COVID. [motions to mimic putting on a mask/face shield] It’s super claustrophobic, you’ve got the mask and the shield shout-out to Chris Stag, who took care of us…There is just less room, less space,” the actor told Collider what it was like shooting Bullet Train.

The rest of Bullet Train’s cast includes Joey King (The Dark Knight Rises), Michael Shannon (Knives Out, Man of Steel), Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock (Gravity, Speed), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kraven The Hunter, Godzilla, Kick-Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron), Karen Fukuhara (The Boys, Suicide Squad), Brian Tyree Henry (Godzilla vs Kong, Widows, Joker, Eternals), Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine, Avengers: Endgame, Sunshine, Westworld, The Last Samurai), Logan Lerman (Fury, Hunters), Lady Gaga (Gucci, A Star Is Born, Machete Kills), Masi Oka (Heroes), Zazie Beetz (Joker, Deadpool 2), and rapper Bad Bunny.

Sony will release David Leitch’s (John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw) next action film on April 8, 2022.

SNAKE EYES – An ancient Japanese clan called the Arashikage welcomes tenacious loner Snake Eyes after he saves the life of their heir apparent. Upon arrival in Japan, the Arashikage teach him the ways of the ninja warrior while also providing him something he’s been longing for: a home. However, when secrets from Snake Eyes’ past are revealed, his honor and allegiance get tested — even if that means losing the trust of those closest to him.

SOURCE: COLLIDER

Posted on in Film News

‘Nobody 2’: Sequel To Bob Odenkirk Action Flick In The Works From ‘John Wick’ Screenwriter Derek Kolstad

While John Wick franchise creator Derek Kolstad has stated he won’t be involved with the writing of John Wick: Chapter 4 or John Wick: Chapter 5, he’s apparently going to be busy writing a sequel to the Bob Odenkirk action movie Nobody.

The development news comes from Nobody director Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry) speaking with genre outlet Jo Blo, as he has confirmed that Derek Kolstad is already working on a script, hoping it will be greenlit.

“There’s plenty of stories that can be told in this world, with the character Hutch. I know that Derek (Kolstad – the writer) has begun work on the sequel,” Naishuller told the outlet.

Kolstad recently worked on Marvel’s hit Disney+ series The Falcon & The Winter Soldier among other high-profile IP projects.

While Nobody certainly felt like low-budget John Wick, it still seemed to find an audience and a lot of people enjoyed it. Considering the budget was only $16 million and earned $61.5 million globally during the pandemic, they could crank out a bunch of these R-rated movies and I’m sure Universal Pictures would be happy with the results.

With Bob Odenkirk’s series Better Call Saul wrapping-up, he’ll have a large opening in his filming schedule to accommodate sequels. I’m also curious if producer David Leitch will attempt to connect Nobody to his other action movies like Atomic Blonde, Kate, Bullet Train, or the John Wick franchise since crossovers could be the next big kick.

NOBODY – Hutch Mansell fails to defend himself or his family when two thieves break into his suburban home one night. The aftermath of the incident soon strikes a match to his long-simmering rage. In a barrage of fists, gunfire and squealing tires, Hutch must now save his wife and son from a dangerous adversary — and ensure that he will never be underestimated again.

SOURCE: JO BLO

Posted on in Film News

Brad Pitt Assassin Pic ‘Bullet Train’ Releases April 2022

Sony Pictures has finally given a release date for their Japanese-set action movie Bullet Train. The project stars Oscar-winner Brad Pitt (Killing Them Softly, Inglourious Basterds, Fight Club, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) as an assassin named Ladybug, that is travelling on a bullet train in Japan, only to face a wave of murderous fellow assassins.

Bullet Train will hit theaters on April 8, 2022, as announced by the studio via Deadline.

It was helmed by stuntman-turned-director David Leitch and has been hyped-up for the amount of in-camera stunt work Brad Pitt did on the film, similar to how Keanu Reeves did a lot of his own stunt work on the John Wick films thanks to months of intense training and prep.

Leitch co-directed the original John Wick only to move on as a solo filmmaker with credits such as Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw, and his next project is the memory loss thriller Fast & Loose starring Oscar-winner Will Smith. He produced Bob Odenkirk’s Nobody and Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Kate at Netflix coming out in September.

The rest of the cast consists of Joey King (The Dark Knight Rises), Andrew Koji (G.I. Joe Origins: Snake Eyes), Michael Shannon (Knives Out, Man of Steel), Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock (Gravity, Speed), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kraven The Hunter, Godzilla, Kick-Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron), Karen Fukuhara (The Boys, Suicide Squad), Brian Tyree Henry (Godzilla vs Kong, Widows, Joker, Eternals), Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine, Avengers: Endgame, Sunshine, Westworld, The Last Samurai), Logan Lerman (Fury, Hunters), Lady Gaga (Gucci, A Star Is Born, Machete Kills), Masi Oka (Heroes), Zazie Beetz (Joker, Deadpool 2), and rapper Bad Bunny.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

First Images of Tokyo-Set Action Flick ‘Kate’ Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead & Produced By David Leitch

John Wick co-director David Leitch is producing a handful of action films with the recent success of Bob Odenkirk’s Nobody are likely going to be on folks’ radar from now on. Leitch is also behind Atomic Blonde, Hobbs & Shaw, Deadpool 2, and was recently working with Brad Pitt on the Sony flick Bullet Train.

One of the other productions produced by Letich is the Netflix film Kate that stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, as Kate, a criminal that is poisoned in Tokyo, Japan and has 24 hours to dish-out revenge before she dies.

After she’s irreversibly poisoned, a ruthless criminal operative (Winstead) has less than 24 hours to exact revenge on her enemies and in the process forms an unexpected bond with the daughter of one of her past victims.

The first images have been released by Entertainment Weekly showing off the film’s slick visual style.

The rest of the cast includes Woody Harrelson (Solo: A Star Wars Story, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, True Detective), Michiel Huisman (The Haunting of Hill House), Tadanobu Asano (Thor: Ragnarok, Mortal Kombat, Midway), Jun Kunimura (Rain), Miyavi Lee Ishihara (Unbroken, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil), and newcomer Miku Martineau as Ani.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead isn’t a stranger to genre projects with credits such as 10 Cloverfield Lane, Fargo, Live Free or Die Hard, the DC Comics film Birds of Prey playing The Huntress. The Thing (2011), Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Gemini Man, Black Christmas, and Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof.

Another female led action flick on the horizon is Karen Gillan’s Gunpowder Milkshake, which is being released by Netflix.

SOURCE: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Posted on in Film News

‘The Division’: ‘Red Notice’ Director Rawson Marshall Thurber Replaces David Leitch On Netflix Video Game Movie

Deadline has word that David Lietch has been replaced as director on Netflix’s feature film adaptation of the video game Tom Clancy’s The Division. They’ve pivoted to director Rawson Marshall Thurber, who recently wrapped the high-budgeted heist flick Red Notice that stars Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds.

Marshall will co-write The Division’s script with Ellen Shanman.

The story is set in the near future with a virus spread via paper money on Black Friday, decimating the city of New York and killing millions. By Christmas, what’s left of society has descended into chaos. A group of civilians, trained to operate in catastrophic times, are activated in an attempt to save who and what remains.

Jessica Chastain and Jake Gyllenhaal are still set to star/produce the film.

Leitch is apparently too busy to tackle the film as he’s deep into production on Sony’s assassin flick Bullet Train starring Oscar-winner Brad Pitt. However, he’ll stay on as producer via 87North Productions.

It’s unknown when filming is going to start.

The Ubisoft video game has been reasonably successful with two installments released.

SOURCE: DEADLINE