Radical Comics - Film

Film

Stemming from its start as a comic book publisher, and in regards to its comics, Radical Founder Barry Levine stated that “each title is built with the assumption the comic book will eventually land on the big screen.” These tools are used to attract film directors and other talent for attachment to a project during the development process. Lastly, Radical sometimes employs the comic’s series writer to draft an initial screenplay of their work as a part of the film pitch package presented to studios. Using these strategies, Radical has attracted various Hollywood talent and studios to their projects.

Films either in development or released include:

• Oblivion: Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski brought this original concept to Radical and is now a major motion picture co-written and directed by Kosinski, and produced and released by Universal Pictures, based on the never published illustrated novel. It stars Tom Cruise, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Morgan Freeman, Melissa Leo, Zoë Bell, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Regarding the status of the never released illustrated novel, Kosinski told Empire Magazine "I don’t have any plans to do it right now. To me it’s feels like it’s in the rear-view mirror, you know? It’s like part of the development process. The film is the end result. But never say never. Maybe at some point it will be fun to go back and show the steps and the journey."

• Hercules: The Thracian Wars: Director Brett Ratner is attached to produce and direct. A co-production of Radical Studios, MGM and Paramount Pictures. The script is written by Evan Spiliotopoulos and Ryan Condal based upon the comic series created by Radical Publishing and written by Steve Moore. The lead role has been cast with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Aksel Hennie is cast in the role of Tydeus. Rufus Sewell is cast as Autolycus. Ian McShane has been cast as Amphiarus, part priest, part prophet and part warrior who is Hercules’ counselor. Also joining are Joseph Fiennes, John Hurt and Rebecca Ferguson.

• Last Days of American Crime: In 2009 Sam Worthington (Avatar) was originally attached to produce and star in The Last Days of American Crime. In 2013 it was announced that Worthington had left the project and that commercial and music video director Anthony Mandler was now attached to direct, replacing F. Gary Gray.

• Abattoir: Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw and Mother’s Day is attached to write and direct a film based on the 6-issue miniseries.

• Freedom Formula:Ghost of the Wasteland: Bryan Singer (X-Men and The Usual Suspects has been attached to direct, with production through Singer’s Bad Hat Harry Productions. The rights to the film adaptation are licensed to New Regency Productions.