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Exclusive: Alcon Television Group has stepped up with a preemptive bid to snap up the rights to the Battle Chasers fantasy comic book series from prolific comic book artist Joe Madureira, which will be developed as a live-action TV series with John Wick creator Derek Kolstad attached to write and executive produce. The pact comes on the heels of the recent announcement that the popular comic series will return with a 10th installment after a 20-year hiatus.

Set in an arcane punk world, Battle Chasers follows a ragtag group of heroes: a disgraced, heartbroken swordsman, a cynical thief, a cranky wizard, a war machine with a kind heart, and a young girl whose missing father left her a pair of powerful magic gloves well beyond her capabilities. They must come together, despite their many, many differences, to stop a dark force rising in the land.

“As a storyteller–as well...

Exclusive: Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman will rewrite and direct the science fiction feature Sid for Amazon Studios from an original spec screenplay written by Travis Milloy (Pandorium), Deadline has learned. The storyline is being kept under wraps.

Ahern & Loughman’s feature directorial debut, Extra Ordinary, premiered in competition at last year’s SXSW to rave reviews, notching 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. The supernatural comedy follows Rose (Maeve Higgins), a mostly sweet and mostly lonely small-town driving instructor who must use her supernatural talent to save the daughter of Martin (Barry Ward), also mostly sweet and lonely, from a washed-up rock star (Will Forte) who is using her in a satanic pact that will reignite his fame.

Davis Entertainment and Zoic Studios are producing Sid. Producers are John Davis and John Fox via Davis Entertainment. EPs include Davis Entertainment’s Jeremy Stein and Zoic Studios’ Chris Jones, Samantha Shear and Loni Peristere.

AGC has closed a raft of Cannes virtual market deals on Nick Jonas-Laurence Fishburne action-thriller The Blacksmith.

Sizeable pre-sales have closed in Germany & Switzerland (Constantin), France (Metropolitan), UK (Entertainment Film), Latin America (CDC & Cvt), Russia (Paradise/Mgn) and South Korea & Vietnam (Joy’N’Content).

Pacts have also been sealed with Benelux (The Searchers), Greece (Odeon), Middle East (Salim Raima), Eastern Europe (Prorom), Indonesia (Pt Prima), Taiwan (MovieCloud), Thailand (Sahamongkolfilm), Phillipines (Pioneer), Israel (United King), Turkey (Bg Films) and India (Empire Networks).

AGC, which reps world rights, had a virtual presentation with CEO Stuart Ford and director Pierre Morel (Taken) as well as a video mash up showcasing Jonas and Fishburne.

Morel and Liam Neeson previously had big success with action franchise Taken. This time it will be Jonas with the very particular set of skills. The actor and singer will play Wes Loomis, a ‘Blacksmith’ – the intelligence community’s go-to weapons expert.

AGC Studios’ actioner “The Blacksmith” will feature actor-singer Nick Jonas as a “very modern and updated” MacGyver, according to the film’s director, “Taken” helmer Pierre Morel.

The studio’s pre-recorded Cannes market presentation featured a conversation between AGC boss Stuart Ford and Morel, who discussed the action thriller’s international potential, particularly with its young lead now cast. The film is set to go into production in September.

Jonas plays Wes Loomis, a go-to weapons expert for the intelligence community who goes on the run after his lab is destroyed and his colleagues murdered. With the aid of a young CIA analyst, Noelle Hazlitt, Wes seeks out his mentor, Mather (Laurence Fishburne), a retired blacksmith, to guide Noelle and him as they look for answers.

“I’m a James Bond fan and my big question as a kid was, what would it be like if Q had to do the mission himself?...

Nick Jonas and Laurence Fishburne have joined the cast of “The Blacksmith,” the next action film from “Taken” director Pierre Morel, AGC Studios’ Stuart Ford announced Tuesday.

Morel’s “The Blacksmith” is based on a graphic novel from Kickstart Comics by Malik Evans and Richard Sparkman and follows a weapons expert who must go on the run from killers who murdered his colleagues.

“Source Code” and “Flatliners” writer Ben Ripley adapted the graphic novel. Agc Studios and Jon Shestack will produce along with Kickstart Productions’ Jason Netter and Jeremy Stein. Agc’s Ford and Linda McDonough are executive producing, as will Samantha Shear and Bob Sobhani.

Also Read: Jimmy Fallon Remembers the Lyrics to 'Sucker' and Nick Jonas Gets Soaked (Video)

Production on ‘The Blacksmith” will begin later in 2020. Here’s the full synopsis:

Wes Loomis (Jonas) is a “Blacksmith” – the intelligence community’s go-to weapons expert. When his clandestine...

Nick Jonas (Jumanji) and Laurence Fishburne (Matrix) have signed on to star in Pierre Morel (Taken) action-thriller The Blacksmith, which Agc is financing and producing.

Morel and Liam Neeson had enormous success with action franchise Taken. This time it will be Jonas with the very particular set of skills. The actor and singer will play Wes Loomis, a ‘Blacksmith’ – the intelligence community’s go-to weapons expert. When his clandestine lab is destroyed and his colleagues murdered, he must go on the run with only his unique set of technological skills and the help of a brilliant, young CIA analyst Noelle Hazlitt to keep him alive. They seek out Mather (Fishburne), a retired blacksmith and Wes’ mentor, to help guide them.”

Casting for the female lead Hazlitt is underway and Agc is aiming for a late 2020 production start on the movie which it hopes will be the start of a new action franchise.

Actor-singer-songwriter Nick Jonas and Laurence Fishburne are set to star in “The Blacksmith” which, financed and produced by Agc Studios, signals a potential early top title with the makings of a new action thriller movie franchise at June’s Cannes virtual markets.

Jonas and Fishburne were unveiled Tuesday by Stuart Ford, Agc Studios chairman and CEO, who also said that the producers would “soon be announcing an equally outstanding young female actor to play across from Nick.”

“Taken’s” Pierre Morel will direct from a screenplay adaptation by Ben Ripley of the acclaimed 2011 graphic novel from Kickstart Comics by Malik Evans and Richard Sparkman.

“Pairing“ an exhilarating young talent like Nick with seasoned heavyweights such as Pierre and Laurence” means that after the female lead’s casting, “we will have all the ingredients for a major new film franchise built around a very modern breed of action hero,” Ford added.

Production earmarked for later this year.

Singer-songwriter and actor Nick Jonas and Laurence Fishburne have signed on to Pierre Morel’s action thriller The Blacksmith, which Agc Studios will finance and produce.

Ben Ripley adapted the screenplay from the graphic novel from Kickstart Comics by Malik Evans and Richard Sparkman and production has been earmarked for later this year.

Jon Shestack (Air Force One) is also producing with Kickstart Productions’ Jason Netter (Wanted), and Jeremy Stein. Agc Studios CEO Stuart Ford and Linda McDonough are executive producers alongside Samantha Shear and Bob Sobhani.

Jonas will play a weapons expert or...

Exclusive: Zoic Studios, the VFX firm behind Game of Thrones and The Twilight Zone, is adapting AI graphic novel thriller Mnemosyne as it steps up its push into original content.

The company has partnered with digital comic book company Tapas Media, which has been described as the YouTube of comics and the Candy Crush for books, on the project, which is being set up for television and cross-platform adaptation.

More from DeadlineVES Encourages VFX Houses To Work From Home As They Work Through Challenges During Hollywood's Coronavirus Shutdown'The Twilight Zone' VFX Firm Zoic Studios To Adapt Fantasy Epic 'Soleri' As Part of Originals PushDante Basco And Tapas Media To Develop Comic Series 'Kids Being Kids' Into Feature Film

Mnemosyne, named after the Greek goddess of memory, follows a young woman recovering from a horrible crash who struggles to regain her memory. The more she remembers, the more she fears...

Pierre Morel, the director of “Taken,” is set to direct an action thriller film based on the graphic novel “The Blacksmith,” it was announced Thursday by the film’s producer Jon Shestack and financier Stuart Ford of Agc Studios.

“The Blacksmith” is based on a 2011 graphic novel by Malik Evans and Richard Sparkman that tells the story of a go-to weapons expert who goes on the run after his lab is destroyed and his colleagues are murdered. He must use his unique set of skills to keep him alive and journey through the heart of his own dark profession.

Ben Ripley adapted the screenplay. Shestack (“Air Force One”) will produce with Jason Netter and Jeremy Stein. Ford is executive producing on behalf of his Agc Studios. Samantha Shear and Bob Sobhani will also executive produce.

Production is set to begin on “The Blacksmith” in 2020.

Also Read: 'Peppermint' Film...

Taken filmmaker Pierre Morel has been set to direct action-thriller The Blacksmith, screenwriter Ben Ripley’s (Source Code) adaptation of the graphic novel by Malik Evans and Richard Sparkman.

Jon Shestack (Air Force One) will produce with Jason Netter (Wanted), and Jeremy Stein, with Agc Studios’ Stuart Ford executive producing. Samantha Shear and Bob Sobhani will also executive produce. Agc will finance and co-pre U.S. rights with UTA.

Production is due to commence in 2020 on the feature about ‘Blacksmith’ Wes Loomis, a go-to weapons expert or the intelligence community. When his clandestine lab is destroyed and his colleagues murdered, Wes must “go on the run with only his unique set of technological skills to keep him alive, in a journey that takes him to the heart of his own dark profession.”

The film will form part of Agc’s Afm sales slate, which as we revealed earlier this week...

Jon Shestack (Air Force One) to produce action thriller.

Action specialist Pierre Morel has been hired to direct thriller The Blacksmith, which Agc Studios will finance and introduce to buyers at the Afm next month.

Agc Studios head Stuart Ford and Air Force One producer Jon Shestack announced the project on Thursday (10), and have earmarked a 2020 production start.

Ben Ripley adapted the screenplay from the graphic novel by Malik Evans and Richard Sparkman. Shestack will produce with Jason Netter (Wanted), and Jeremy Stein, with Ford serving as executive producer alongside Samantha Shear and Bob Sobhani.

The Blacksmith follows a go-to...

“Taken” director Pierre Morel has signed to helm “The Blacksmith,” an action thriller that will be financed by Stuart Ford’s Agc Studios.

The deal was announced Thursday as part of Agc’s slate at the American Film Market, which opens Nov. 6 in Santa Monica, Ca. UTA, who will co-represent Us distribution rights with Agc.

“The Blacksmith” follows Wes Loomis, who operates as a “Blacksmith” – the intelligence community’s go-to weapons expert. When his clandestine lab is destroyed and his colleagues murdered, he must go on the run with only his unique set of technological skills to keep him alive, in a journey that takes him to the heart of his own dark profession. Production will commence in 2020.

Ben Ripley, whose credits include “Source Code” and “Flatliners,” is adapting the script from the graphic novel by Malik Evans and Richard Sparkman. Jon Shestack (“Air Force One”) will produce with Jason Netter (“Wanted”) and Jeremy Stein,...

Taken director Pierre Morel has signed on to direct The Blacksmith, a new action film based on the graphic novel of the same name by Malik Evans and Richard Sparkman.

Ben Ripley (Source Code) will adapt the graphic novel for the screen, with Jon Shestack (Air Force One) producing together with Jason Netter (Wanted), and Jeremy Stein. Stuart Ford's Agc Studios will finance the project, with Ford executive producing alongside Samantha Shear and Bob Sobhani.

The "Blacksmith" of the title is Wes Loomis, a high-tech weapons expert for the spy community. When his secret lab is destroyed and his colleagues ...

Taken director Pierre Morel has signed on to direct The Blacksmith, a new action film based on the graphic novel of the same name by Malik Evans and Richard Sparkman.

Ben Ripley (Source Code) will adapt the graphic novel for the screen, with Jon Shestack (Air Force One) producing together with Jason Netter (Wanted), and Jeremy Stein. Stuart Ford's Agc Studios will finance the project, with Ford executive producing alongside Samantha Shear and Bob Sobhani.

The "Blacksmith" of the title is Wes Loomis, a high-tech weapons expert for the spy community. When his secret lab is destroyed and his colleagues ...

Exclusive: Zoic Studios, the VFX firm behind The Twilight Zone and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, is adapting epic fantasy novel Soleri as it makes a push into original content.

The company has optioned the rights to the New York Times bestseller, written by Michael Johnston, for film and TV. The book, which is inspired by ancient Egyptian and Roman history and King Lear, was published in 2017 by Tor.

The deal comes hot on the heels of Zoic Studios’ first development deal, optioning Christopher Golden’s horror novel Snowblind for a feature film adaptation from screenwriter Amber Alexander.

The book, which is the first in a series of novels, follows the Soleri, god-like creatures who have ruled for thousands of years. However, no living person has seen the Soleri for centuries. When a dark portent appears in the sky, it sets into motion a power struggle that weakens the Soleri’s control of their empire.

Exclusive: NBC has put in development drama Blacksmith based on the graphic novel by Malik Evans and Richard Sparkman, from feature writer-director Jeff Wadlow (Truth or Dare). Universal TV produces in association with Studio71, a digital media company and premium content studio, and Kickstart, the company behind the Blacksmith comics.

Written by Wadlow, Blacksmith is centered on Alex Malloy, known in the intelligence community for building high-tech weapons for U.S. government agencies. When he discovers some of the files containing his weapon designs have fallen into the wrong hands, he sets off on a journey to recover the files before his weapons are used for harm.

Wadlow executive produces with Studio 71’s Michael Schreiber, along with Jon Shestack, Jeremy Stein, Bob Sobhani and Samantha Shear. Jason Netter also executive produces and oversees development for Kickstart

Wadlow most recently co-wrote, directed and executive produced Blumhouse horror thriller Truth Or Dare.