The video game movie trend now continues with news at Deadline for upcoming actioner, Just Cause.
John Wick franchise writer Derek Kolstad who himself proclaimed his fandom for the Avalanche Studios/Square Enix game franchise, will write and produce the film with Constantin Film and Prime Universe Films. The move marks the latest update two years after San Andreas helmer Brad Peyton and Aquaman actor Jason Momoa were tapped to direct and star, respectively, back in 2017 from a script by John Collee.
Also producing are Prime Universe’s Adian Askarieh with Robert Kulzer for Constantin whose Martin Moszkowicz will exec produce with Square Enix. Plot details and specifics are currently unknown for the film which will otherwise reportedly stick to the game’s blueprint following Rico, a black ops agent under the employ of The Agency, and in a race against the clock to take down a mercenary group known as The Black Hand.
The series draws its name from the real-life United States 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, aided by his iconic Grappling Hook and stealth Wing-suite, that ought to play well on a movie screen.
The games are “open world action” which take place in and around various islands, and the series has shipped over 26 million units worldwide.
Production is reportedly tracking for a 2020 start date with the cast and director search now underway.
The news comes as a sweetener for cinephiles keen on video game film adaptations, particularly this week as New Line moves forward with Mortal Kombat and Sony grows its film and TV staple in-house at PlayStation Productions.
The additon of Just Cause now further adds to the growing list of projects ovet the years which Kolstad has been tied to. As of March, that also includes Gerard McMurray’s upcoming Booker, described as a hard-boiled John Wick-esque action thriller with an African American lead.
For good measure, Kolstad also penned Nobody for STXfilms which has Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk starring for Hardcore Henry director Ilya Naishuller, as well as a script for F. Gary Gray’s previously-announced Echo adaptation, and an upcoming remake of The Man From Nowhere with CJ Entertainment producing. (DEADLINE)
