Tag: Derek Kolstad

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‘Normal’: Action Western Flick From ‘John Wick’ Creator Teams Bob Odenkirk With ‘Free Fire’ Director Ben Wheatley

“John Wick” creator/screenwriter Derek Kolstad has countless projects in the works including a sequel to the Bob Odenkirk action pic “Nobody,” but that won’t be the only project with Odenkirk on the horizon as Deadline has revealed he’s written a western project for the “Better Call Saul” and “Breaking Bad” actor with the project heading into the European Film Market as it seeks financier/distribution partners. The kicker is that British genre filmmaker Ben Wheatley (“Kill List”) is attached to direct the movie.

The outlet included the following synopsis of the western actioner that sees Odenkirk in the role of a small-town sheriff:

Thrust into the temporary role of the sheriff for the small sleepy town Normal after the previous one’s untimely death. When the town’s bank is robbed by an out-of-town couple, Ulysses arrives on the scene to find that the town is hiding much more sinister deep-seated secrets under its surface and everyone – from the bartender to the priest – is in on it. And now Ulysses, who’s up-till-now focused only on running away from the demons of his past, must uncover the full extent of this criminal conspiracy.   

Wheatley isn’t a stranger to the action genre with “Free Fire” which starred Cillian Murphy and Brie Larson, an A24 action-comedy focused on an illegal gun sale in 1970s Boston that goes south real quick. He also recently worked with Jason Statham on the gonzo Megalodon movie, “The Meg 2.”

Other than being the architect of the popular “John Wick” franchise Kolstad is also involved with a “Hitman” series, a standalone “Dungeons & Dragons” series, a “Streets of Rage” movie adaptation at Lionsgate, a feature film based on manga/anime “Hellsing,” a potential reunion with director Chad Stahelski for a remake of “Man From Nowhere,” and was one part of the writing team on Marvel’s “The Falcon & The Winter Soldier.”

Production details and a timeline is unclear at the moment as there had been some signals that “Nobody 2” would be heading in front of cameras shortly.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

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Sterling K. Brown To Lead Amazon Action Pic ‘Coyote Blue’ Penned By ‘John Wick’ Creator Derek Kolstad

Amazon Studios and John Wick creator Derek Kolsad are teaming up for an original action film.

Variety reports that Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) will lead the pic titled Blue Coyote, which will see Brown playing a man on the run from a group of ruthless criminals, but as seen in other Kolstad projects he has a certain set of lethal skills that will be begrudging be used at some point against his would-be killers.

The story revolves around an everyman (Brown) who’s hunted by a ruthless criminal syndicate for his mysterious cargo, and now must navigate the treacherous terrain of Route 66 while unleashing his lethal set of skills in a fight for survival.

Coyote Blue will be the feature film debut for television director Hanelle M. Culpepper, who has worked on Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Kung Fu, American Crime, Mayans M.C., Samuel L. Jackson’s Apple TV+ limited series The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, and the upcoming Amazon series adaptation of Neil Gaimen’s Ansani Boys.

Sterling K. Brown is no stranger to action projects with credits such as Hotel Artemis, The Predator, The Rhythm Section, and had a brief role in Marvel’s billion-dollar hit Black Panther playing the father of Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger.

Kolstad was recently behind the Bob Odenkirk actioner Nobody (sequel in early development) and worked with head writer Malcolm Spellman on Marvel’s hit streaming series The Falcon & The Winter Soldier.

With Culpepper busy with Amazon’s Anasni Boys, it’s unknown when we can expect Blue Coyote to begin shooting.

Still, it’s interesting to see Sterling K. Brown make the big jump to action lead and should be a fun ride given how he’s grown as a solid actor over the years. We don’t normally see seasoned actors given these type of roles and Brown’s involvement should easily elevate the material, just like with Bob Odenkirk in Nobody.

SOURCE: VARIETY

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‘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

Creator Derek Kolstad Says He Won’t Be Writing Next Two ‘John Wick’ Films & ‘John Wick 4’ Still Expected To Begin Filming This Spring

We’ve been anticipating the next chapters of the John Wick franchise as Lionsgate has promised that John Wick: Chapter 4 and John Wick: Chapter 5 would be filming back-to-back with Keanu Reeves back in the titular role. Last we saw, Wick agreed to go to war against the High Table (powerful puppet masters of this world of assassins) with Laurence Fishburn’s Bowery King.

In a recent press release from Netflix, about the BRZRKR movie starring Keanu Reeves, they noted that the actor will begin shooting John Wick: Chapter 4 this spring.

Reeves recently completed production on Matrix 4 which will be released later this year. He will begin production on John Wick 4 this Spring. 

Collider has now spoken with the franchise creator and architect, Derek Kolstad. The screenwriter is currently on the promotional press rounds for the Bob Odenkirk action flick Nobody, which is getting some positive buzz from early press screenings. Derek revealed that he actually isn’t working on the next two John Wick films and has seemingly stepped aside.

KOLSTAD: “I’m actually not involved in four and five. At a certain stage of the studio will tell you, your creation is graduated, and you wish it well. I’m still close with Chad, still close with Dave, and I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m excited to see.”

“No, it wasn’t my decision. When you think of the contractually of these things, the third one I shared the credit with any number of people, they didn’t have to come back to me, and so they didn’t. At a certain stage the studio will tell you, your creation is graduated, and you wish it well. I’m still close with Chad (Stahelski), still close with David (Leitch), and I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m excited to see.”

Derek Kolstad is working on a maddening amount of projects as he recently worked on Marvel’s hit streaming series The Falcon & The Winter Soldier on Disney+, he’s also working on a live-action Dungeons & Dragons series and a live-action film based on the anime/manga Hellsing, among many other things.

The world of John Wick is expected to be built-out in the not too distant future from beyond the main films with Len Wiseman’s spinoff movie Ballerina and the Starz series The Continental, about the assassin hotel.

SOURCE: COLLIDER & NETFLIX

Posted on in Film News

‘John Wick’ Creator Derek Kolstad Developing Live-Action Film Based On ‘Hellsing’ Manga For Amazon

Deadline has just revealed that John Wick creator/screenwriter Derek Kolstad is teaming-up with Amazon Studios to develop a live-action feature film based on the Japanese manga Hellsing from Kouta Hirano. An interesting take on the Dracula mythology seeing him joining The Hellsing Organization, a group that seemingly echos B.P.R.D. from the Hellboy comic books.

Written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano and published by Shōnen Gahōsha,  Hellsing reimagines Dracula as Alucard, a special agent bound to The Hellsing Organization, under the leadership of Integra Hellsing, great-granddaughter of Abraham Van Hellsing, to aid them in their mission to protect England and the world from vampires, ghouls, and other supernatural threats. The manga also focuses on Hellsing’s newest recruit, a female ex-police officer named Seras Victoria.

Kolstad has been closely involved with the John Wick franchise along with writing the upcoming Bob Odenkirk action flick Nobody and was working on Marvel’s Disney+ series The Falcon & The Winter Soldier. He is also developing a Dungeons & Dragons live-action series for Hasbro/eOne as Paramount is moving forward with their own feature film remake.

Derek is excellent at world building which should be a huge asset for the Hellsing film.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

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‘Dungeons & Dragons’: Paramount Reportedly Adds ‘Bridgerton’ Actor Rege-Jean Page To Their Fantasy Remake

A casting update for Paramount Pictures’ new Dungeons & Dragons film from The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Bridgerton actor Rege-Jean Page has closed a deal for a role in the fantasy film that will be directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein .

Dungeons & Dragons is based on the beloved table top game that eventually incorporated various universes including elements from the Fafhrd & The Gray Mouser series of novels created by American fantasy author Fritz Leiber.

Page joins a cast that includes Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and Justice Smith.

The Ronin previously confirmed production under the working title Chainmail will be taking place in Belfast, Northern Ireland and France. The film’s cinematographer will be Barry Peterson (Game Night) and production designer Raymond Chan (The Falcon & The Winter Soldier).

John Wick franchise creator Derek Kolstad (The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, Nobody) is also developing a live-action Dungeons & Dragons series for Hasbro/eOne as reported last month by The Hollywood Reporter.

Paramount Pictures has given the film a release date of May 27th, 2022.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

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TRAILER: Bob Odenkirk Channels Keanu Reeves To Become A Full-On Badass In ‘Nobody’ – From The Architect of The ‘John Wick’ Franchise

NOBODY – Sometimes the man you don’t notice is the most dangerous of all. Emmy winner Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, The Post, Nebraska) stars as Hutch Mansell, an underestimated and overlooked dad and husband, taking life’s indignities on the chin and never pushing back. A nobody. When two thieves break into his suburban home one night, Hutch declines to defend himself or his family, hoping to prevent serious violence. His teenage son, Blake (Gage Munroe, The Shack), is disappointed in him and his wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen, Wonder Woman), seems to pull only further away. The aftermath of the incident strikes a match to Hutch’s long-simmering rage, triggering dormant instincts and propelling him on a brutal path that will surface dark secrets and lethal skills. In a barrage of fists, gunfire and squealing tires, Hutch must save his family from a dangerous adversary (famed Russian actor Aleksey Serebryakov, Amazon’s McMafia)—and ensure that he will never be underestimated as a nobody again. Nobody is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry), from a script by Derek Kolstad, the narrative architect of the John Wick franchise, and co-stars legendary Emmy winner Christopher Lloyd as Hutch’s father and multi-hyphenate musician-actor RZA as Hutch’s brother, whose own hidden talents aid Hutch in his quest for vengeance.

Universal had planned on releasing the film on February 19th, 202 but have pushed to February 26th.

SOURCE: IGN

Posted on in Film News

‘John Wick 4’ and ‘John Wick 5’ Expected To Shoot Back-To-Back According To Lionsgate

Mr. Wick is coming back for two more movies!

Earlier in the year, John Wick creator Derek Kolstad suggested that John Wick: Chapter 5 could be the final installment of the franchise, it looks like Lionsgate is indeed moving forward with that installment much sooner than we had expected. 

On the Lionsgate earnings call yesterday (via The Hollywood Reporter), CEO Jon Feltheimer revealed their current plan is to hopefully shoot both John Wick: Chapter 4 and John Wick: Chapter 5 back-to-back. 

Hinting they could both begin production next year depending on Keanu’s schedule. 

FELTHEIMER: “We’re also busy preparing scripts for the next two installments of our John Wick action franchise, with John Wick 4 slated to hit theaters Memorial Day weekend 2022. We hope to shoot both John Wick 4 and 5 back-to-back when Keanu becomes available early next year.”

This is likely due to the delays on John Wick 4 after Keanu’s filming of Matrix 4 happened to land squarely during the pandemic and production was ultimately paused until recently where it seemingly has resumed in Germany. 

It would be expected that both director Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeve are returning for John Wick 5. 

Pushing forward with John Wick 5 is likely more of a way to finalize the franchise and making sure they have everything tied up in a nice bow, the extra development time during the pandemic also possibly led to the fifth installment being pushed into script phases. Another reason could be to essentially shoot it as one big movie and save production costs. 

Filming on John Wick: Chapter 4 is expected to begin sometime next year once Keanu completes his work on Matrix 4 and the studio recently gave it a new release date of May 27th, 2022. 

The fourth installment is expected to see John (Reeves) and The Bowery King (Fishburne) going to war with The High Table, the mysterious group that controls their violent world of assassins. 

This would further delay Chad’s Highlander reboot as well. 

Lionsgate is also looking to expand the franchise with spinoffs including a Starz series titled The Continental and Len Wiseman’s upcoming female-led action flick Ballerina both directly set in the world of John Wick. 

SOURCE: LIONSGATE

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‘The Man From Nowhere’ Remake Adds ‘John Wick’ Screenwriter Derek Kolstad – Chad Stahelski To Produce

Deadline reports that John Wick trilogy director Chad Stahelski and creator Derek Kolstad have joined New Line Cinema’s upcoming English remake of the South Korean film The Man From Nowhere. Chad will produce the remake via 87Eleven Entertainment with Derek tackling the script.

The original film centered around a quiet pawnshop keeper with a violent past who takes on a drug-and-organ trafficking ring in hope of saving the child who is his only friend.

Chad is currently helping out on The Matrix 4 action sequences, is expected to direct John Wick: Chapter 4 next, is behind a spinoff series titled The Continental, and is developing a reboot of the Highlander franchise for Lionsgate.

Kolstad is a busy bee working on Marvel Studios’ upcoming Disney+ series The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, a feature film adaptation of the video game Just Cause, and recently was tapped by Netflix to tackle two seasons of an animated series based on the video game franchise Splinter Cell.

It’ll be interesting who they end up casting in the lead role and how different this version will be from the original.

This isn’t the first or last American remake of popular Asian-made films. A Parasite series is in the works at HBO and Martin Scorsese’s The Departed is an Americanized take on Infernal Affairs.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

‘Just Cause’ Movie Adds ‘Stuber’ Director Mike Dowse – Written By ‘John Wick’ Creator

Deadline has a new update concerning the Just Cause movie from Constantin Film and Prime Universe that has been in development with a script from John Wick creator Derek Kolstad (The Falcon & The Winter Soldier).

Their report reveals that they’ve now hired Canadian director Mike Dowse to handle the video game adaptation.

The film will follow the video game’s blueprint, as Rico Rodriguez is on a race-against-time mission to stop the mercenary group The Black Hand. The series draws its name from the real-life U.S. invasion of Panama, code-named “Operation Just Cause.” Rodriguez (aka “The Scorpion”) has become one of the few Latino iconic video game characters. He has a signature “agent of chaos” approach to taking down the bad guys. 

Dowse’s previous efforts include It’s All Gone Pete Tong, Goon and Stuber.

SOURCE: DEADLINE