Paramount Acquires HAWKE Rights, Attaches Kurt Wimmer To Pen Script
Deadline is reporting that Paramount Pictures is now out to propel another literary property onto the big screen. For this, we turn to best-selling author Ted Bell’s Alex Hawke book series, telling of its title character – a young man who, driven by the death of his parents, foregoes his inherited wealth to advance himself as a British MI6 skilled in naval combat and foiling terrorist plots from varying international foes.
Bearing comparisons to that of Ian Fleming’s 007 series and other hit spy franchises like that of Jack Ryan and Mitch Rapp (the latter now in production at CBS Films), Bell’s long-running espionage spy thriller series, which launched in 2003, now spans nine installments with a tenth on the way. It is not yet known which story will be applied to the script while word now also brings that Salt, Law Abiding Citizen and Point Break remake screenwriter Kurt Wimmer will adapt the script with Lorenzo di Bonaventura producing.
Wimmer was last reported to be attached to script a currently-untitled kidnap thriller late last year with actor Jason Statham possibly set to star, as well as produce with Steven Chasman. The next book in the Hawke series, “Overkill”, is set to publish in 2018.