GEARS OF WAR: David Leitch To Direct The Long-Awaited Video Game Adaptation For Netflix
Jon Sphaits is penning the script.
david leitch
WICK IS PAIN Trailer Reveals The Pain Behind The Gain Of The Hit ‘John Wick’ Franchise
Read enough interviews online and you’ll get a nifty glimpse as to just what it took to make 2014 action hit John Wick a reality. Of course, that’s a lot of reading, so leave it to Lionsgate and director Jeffrey Doe to take all the good and bad of the historical making of the hitman saga and roll it all into one documentarial blunt to get high as fuck off of… That now brings us to the official trailer for Wick Is Pain, which looks to do exactly that. It’s a great little bookmark for marketing at that with the pending release of Ana de Armas’s own starring contribution to the franchise in Ballerina: From The World Of John Wick coming in June. Then there’s the Donnie Yen spin-off and the upcoming animated prequel all unveiled in the past year, and obviously, a fifth in the canon which is still […]
JOHN WICK: New Poster And More For The Tenth Anniversary Celebration And Re-Release In November!
Today is all things John Wick as Lionsgate queues up fans for a tenth anniversarial re-release on November 3 and 6 through Fathom Events. A new poster is being doled out as well with more below and just beneath the artwork. SANTA MONICA, Calif., October 24, 2024—Today marks the tenth anniversary of the October 24, 2014 release of John Wick, the movie that redefined the action genre, starring Keanu Reeves, directed by Chad Stahelski, written by Derek Kolstad, and produced by Basil Iwanyk, David Leitch, Eva Longoria, and Michael Witherill. With each successive film in the franchise, the universe of John Wick has expanded, the stakes raised, and—for the filmmakers—the challenge to outdo themselves accepted. To celebrate ten years since the film that started it all, Lionsgate will celebrate a decade of Wick by kicking off a year of special events, anniversary screenings, new experiences, and collectible merchandise, culminating in […]
FAST AND LOOSE Is Back On Track At Netflix, Michael Bay To Direct Will Smith Action Thriller
Setting things in motion once more is the reteamimg of Will Smith and director Michael Bay for Netflix action thriller, Fast And Loose. Deadline’s Justin Kroll notes that a start date hasn’t been made but the film would nonetheless be a likely next for 6 Underground helmer Bay who launched the Bad Boys franchise featuring Smith and co-lead Martin Lawrence in 1995. Fast and Loose follows a man who wakes up in Tijuana with no memories. As he pieces together his past, he learns he’s been living two lives: one as a crime kingpin and the other as an undercover CIA agent. The film had been in the works for years with David Leitch coming aboard to produce the film via his 87 North label with Kelly McCormick back in 2020. Leitch left the project prior to Netflix – the latter who parted from the film back in 2022 following […]
BUTTON MAN: David Leitch Tapped To Direct TV Adaptation Of Hit 2000 A.D. Graphic Novel
John Wagner and Arthur Ranson’s Button Man is still in the mix, even after years of development under multiple hands. Word now comes from Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr. that the project is now in the hands of Fifth Season Production Company for a TV adaptation. What’s more is that David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs And Shaw) is being eyed to direct the series. In addition, he will exec produce alongside Kelly McCormick via 87North. Alex Jackson will also exec produce next to Wagner and Ranson. Here’s a description of the graphic novels via 2000 A.D.: A former soldier, he left the military to offer his services as a mercenary in various Third World engagements, But soldiers-for-hire were a dying breed and the work was drying up. So Harry returned to England, and civvy street. Until a friend tells him about THE KILLING GAME Modern-day […]
ACTION Review: A Case For Doing Better By The Action Movie Makers
Action is now streaming on Peacock. The past eleven years have given me quite the insight into covering stunts as part of my regular syllabus on this site. Getting to meet, talk to and occasionally hang out with stunt performers is an amazing add-on to what I do. The most interesting thing though, is the more industry-tethered work that producers venture in covering that field for documentary purposes. With any luck, the documentary films and shows covering stunts will finally motivate The Academy to make the stunt community whole by attributing a new awards category in its ceremony. It’s a talking point that continues to endure with the help of actors like Keanu Reeves, David Harbor, and Winston Duke who help spotlight these below-the-line screen heroes in Action, a new six-part hourlong documentary on Peacock. Directed by Chelsea Allen and Bridger Nielsen, Action ventures a look into the tireless work […]
KUNG FU Taps Donnie Yen To Lead The Universal/87 North Martial Arts Film Reboot
Classic TV series Kung Fu had long been in the works for a remake/reboot of some kind until the CW network landed its own iteration starring actress Olivia Liang for a three season run. That show is streaming on Max and my reaction is here if you’re curious, while the word from Deadline is that Donnie Yen has been tapped to star in the project which has since moved to Universal Pictures and David Leitch and Kelly McCormick’s 87 North. The news on Wednesday marks the latest update on the project succeeding a concept originally birthed by screen legend Bruce Lee that was retooled for its 1972 premiere featuring David Carradine, who continued the TV saga alongside Chris Potter in “Kung Fu: The Legend Continues”. As Deadline’s Justin Kroll reports, Leitch is eyeing the director’s chair for the project adding to his ample resumé in stunts and action, shepherding 2015’s […]
THE KILLER: Is Jang Hyuk’s Latest A Knock On Hollywood’s Door?
At some point, you have to wonder just when actor Jang Hyuk will make his crossover into Hollywood. The best or rather closest inflection point at one time would have been his latest action thriller feature, The Killer, believe it or not. Enter South Korean sensation Jang Hyuk who plays a notorious hitman who’s long since found happiness in a quieter, much more idyllic life as a married man with a business and his own home office. Tasked by his vacationing wife to watch over his friend’s daughter, it isn’t long before the young rebellious girl finds herself in danger, with our hero thrust once more into action to rescue the girl by any brutal, bloody and violent means necessary. The film is chock-filled with stirring and slick action and brutality with Hyuk and filmmaker Choi Jae-hoon now two-for-two since 2019’s The Swordsman. Par for the course is our anti-hero’s […]
‘Bullet Train’ Director’s BANG! Leads New Netflix/Dark Horse Slate With Idris Elba Set To Star
Deadpool 2 director David Leitch is reuniting with Fast And Furious Presents: Hobbs And Shaw co-star, upcoming Beast leading man Idris Elba for Bang!, a new live-action adaptation packaged within a new multi-year partnership between Netflix and Dark Horse Entertainment. Bang! is based on the comic series by Matt Kindt (“Ninjak vs the Valiant Universe”) and Wilfredo Torres (“Captain Kid”). Elba will star as the world’s most celebrated spy who is sent to track down and kill the author responsible for a terrorist cult campaign out to start the apocalypse with a series of novels meant to brainwash their readers. Kindt will pen the script alongside Zak Olkewicz who adapted the Japanese novel, “Maria Bettle” for Leitch’s new action thriller, Bullet Train, pulling into theaters this Friday from Sony. Wednesday’s news comes following the season three premiere of The Umbrella Academy back in June, marking a third-time partnership between Netflix […]
Brad Pitt Pushes His Luck In The Official BULLET TRAIN Trailer
The most recent poster for David Leitch’s latest Deadpool 2 and Hobbs And Shaw follow-up is doing less for me than its footage, so I’m leaving it up to the film itself to make my determinations upon its release in theaters and IMAX on August 5. Indeed, Bullet Train is the name and we’ve got Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock toplining a cast that includes Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon and Benito A. Martínez Ocasio (a.k.a. Bad Bunny). In Bullet Train, Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug’s latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe – all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives – on the world’s fastest train…and he’s got […]
BULLET TRAIN Promo: Hiroyuki Sanada Has A Story To Tell
With the latest news of a release date delay for David Leitch-directed action thriller Bullet Train, Sony Pictures is teasing a little bit more of the film with a new viral video clip featuring Brad Pitt and Hiroyuki Sanada which you can view below courtesy of the studio’s TikTok account. An original movie event, Bullet Train is a fun, delirious action-thriller from the director of Deadpool 2, David Leitch. Brad Pitt headlines an ensemble cast of eclectic, diverse assassins – all with connected yet conflicting objectives – set against the backdrop of a non-stop ride through modern-day Japan. Previously dated for July 15, the studio has since announced its delay to August 5. Leitch directs from a script by Zak Olkewicz, with a cast that also lists Sandra Bullock, Zazie Beetz, Brian Tyree Henry, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Joey King, Logan Lerman, Andrew Koji, Masi Oka, and Michael Shannon. @sonypictures I’m […]
BULLET TRAIN Trailer: Shhhh, There’s People Fighting!
David Leitch’s latest film has arrived to pick things up for upcoming novel adaptation, Bullet Train. The official trailer is here following a brief campaign teasing its launch on Wednesday with Sony Pictures stamping a theatrical July 15 release for the Brad Pitt starrer. An original movie event, Bullet Train is a fun, delirious action-thriller from the director of Deadpool 2, David Leitch. Brad Pitt headlines an ensemble cast of eclectic, diverse assassins – all with connected yet conflicting objectives – set against the backdrop of a non-stop ride through modern-day Japan. Leitch directs from a script by Zak Olkewicz, with a cast that also lists Zazie Beetz, Brian Tyree Henry, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Joey King, Logan Lerman, Andrew Koji, Masi Oka, and Michael Shannon.
FAST & LOOSE: Will Smith Toplines David Leitch Crime Drama Now Shopping To Major Studios
Atomic Blonde and Deadpool 2 helmer David Leitch will direct actor Will Smith in Fast & Loose, a crime drama currently being auctioned among studios and streamers. The move comes following a decision to shop the film around in the months since its initial development at STXfilms last April from a script by Jon and Erich Hoeber (The Meg, Red, Red 2), no star, and with Leitch attached only as producer at the time news broke. After the leader of an upper-echelon criminal organization suffers memory loss from an attack, he reunites with his crew, only to find that things aren’t what he thinks they are. When John Riley (Smith) wakes up in Tijuana after being left for dead with absolutely no memory, he follows a string of clues to uncover his identity discovering he’s been living two different lives: one, as a super-successful crime kingpin, surrounded by beautiful women, […]
THE FALL GUY: Classic ABC Series Makes The Jump To The Big Screen, David Leitch And Ryan Gosling Attached
Deadpool 2 director David Leitch is still plotting Bullet Train for Sony, but thanks to Universal, the 87Eleven stunt multi-hyphenate who’s spent since 2014 leaving an impression in the director’s chair will soon bring to life a feature adaptation based on the 1981 ABC series, The Fall Guy. Deadline’s Justin Kroll was the first to break the news, while THR has more insider info on the project’s title; The latter cites a $125 million dollar bid for the project in a heated auction for Universal against MGM, Lionsgate and Sony, with no streamers involved, as a theatrical release was part of the package. Glen A. Larson created the hit series which lasted five years, casting Lee Majors in the role of Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman who plied his trade both for the screen, and for his side hustle as a bounty hunter with the help of his cousin and […]
BULLET TRAIN Adds Andrew Koji And Joey King
Following news from July with the addition of Brad Pitt to David Leitch’s newest Sony Pictures’s venture, Bullet Train, comes word from Deadline‘s Justin Kroll that Japanese/British actor Andrew Koji has boarded the project. Also joining will be Slender Man actress Joey King with a script by Fear Street writer Zak Olkewicz. Bullet Train is inspired by Maria Beetle, the 2010 Kadokawa Shoten publication from author Kotaro Isaka which, in the novel according to earlier trade news descriptions from Deadline, centers on five assassins who “find themselves on a fast-moving bullet train from Tokyo to Morioka with only a few stops in between. They discover their missions are not unrelated to one another.” As the rest of the plot notes, “The question becomes, who will make it off the train alive and what awaits them at the terminal station?” Leitch will also be joined by Kelly McCormick in producing the […]
BULLET TRAIN Manga Adaptation Makes Way For David Leitch To Direct At Sony
It’s not as if Hollywood hasn’t had its few bright spots in the world of manga adaptations, even in a sea rife with stinkers. Given the right director, there’s always hope, and without fail, there’s no question that the successes of director David Leitch speak louder than words when it comes to thrilling audiences. He’s got prospects nowadays at Sony Pictures with Bullet Train, an adaptation of Isaka Kotaro’s 2010 manga publication from Kadokawa Shoten, Maria Beetle. Leitch will helm from a script he is overseeing from Fear Street writer Zak Olkewicz. According to THR, Bullet Train tells of “a group of hitmen and assassins with conflicting motives on a train in Tokyo”. Apart from all this and more, and unless you’ve read the manga or have any production insight, specific plot details are unknown. Leitch, best known for bringing heavy-hitting Hollywood action to life a la John Wick, Deadpool […]
VERSUS: ‘Predators’ Writers, ‘Deadpool 2’ Team Developing High-Concept Int’l Thriller
To date, cult favorite director Ryuhei Kitamura has been the only director to make titling a film “Versus”, as cool as he did with his own 2000 hit thriller. Nowadays out of the handful that would dare to make such a move comes screenwriting duo Alex Litvak and Michael Finch whose original action spec script – itself titled Versus – has been reportedly acquired by Universal Pictures. This particular iteration has Versus billed as a “high concept international thriller” crossing between iconic 80s action marquee hits Running Man and Bloodsport according to Deadline. David Leitch and Kelly McCormick are listed as producers on the new project via their 87North banner at Universal, while Litvak and Finch will reportedly settle in as executive producers. Both screenwriters previously worked on 2010 sci-fi horror, Predators, and upcoming Medieval and are penning Masters Of The Universe. Leitch co-directed John Wick in 2014 for Lionsgate […]
FAST AND FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS AND SHAW Invites You To Cowboy Up For The Final Trailer
Director David Leitch’s Fast And Furious Presents: Hobbs And Shaw, released its final trailer on Friday for its due date on August 2. To say the stunts and action that have been sampled thusfar are some of the craziest there may be might even be an understatment, underline no less than by what we now see within the new trailers first minute: a riproaring car chase on the streets of London with close calls galore and a shot of the Black Superman himself, Idris Elba, recovering after wrecking through a double decker bus… Yeah… you may want to avoid looking at this trailer lest you spoil the fun of seeing it all unfold on the big screen in a few months. Other than that, you’d be forgiven for endulging in the first place. Elba stars opposite leads Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham with Vanessa Kirby, Helen Mirren and Eiza González, […]
THE DIVISION: Leitch To Direct Upcoming Ubisoft Film Adaptation For Netflix
Active developments toward a live-action adaptation of the hit Ubisoft game, The Division, have been stirring moreso since 2016 with the casting of actor Jake Gyllenhaal and with stunt action feature hitmaker David Leitch tapped to direct just last Spring. Going forward, the word is out with Netflix announcing its acquisition of the feature film that now sets screenwriter Rafe Judkins to put pen-to-paper on the project. Joining Gyllenhaal to star and produce will be actress Jessica Chastain who will partake in the same capacity. In the near future, a pandemic virus is 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. Leitch’s 87North banner will produce alongside Gyllenhaal’s Nine Stories, Chastain’s […]
FAST AND FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS AND SHAW In A Race To See Who Can Kick More Ass In The Newest Trailer
Remember the first official trailer for David Leitch’s Fast And Furious Presents: Hobbs And Shaw? Remember how awesome and action-packed it was? Remember how jazzed as hell you were? Welp, for those answering “yes” and in need to feed their trailer addictions, a new sampling of the upcoming August 2 two-hander with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham is here and keeping the Fast fandom alive and well. This one gets even more stunt and fight-heavy with some laughs to boot, with Vanessa Kirby and Idris Elba full-tilt on the action as well. It’s conjoined even moreso with thematic family element of the Fast saga as we also get to meet Johnson’s on-screen family. It’s all a blast from here on, guys, shepherded by none other than David Leitch of John Wick, Atomic Blonde and Deadpool 2 fame, so check it out above if you think one more trailer […]
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