SHANE BLACK TO DIRECT “THE DESTROYER” FOR SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT, ATLAS ENTERTAINMENT, AND CURRENTENTERTAINMENT TO PRODUCE
Jim Uhls & James Mullaney Penning the Screenplay Based On the Long-Running Book Series
LOS
ANGELES, CA, AUGUST 21, 2014 – Sony Pictures Entertainment announced
today Shane Black will direct the film adaptation of the popular
adventure book series THE DESTROYER by Warren Murphy. Penning the
screenplay are Jim Uhls (Fight Club) and
James Mullaney; Mullaney co-authored and became the sole writer of THE
DESTROYER until the series’ end in 2008. Charles Roven, Steven Chasman,
and Andy Horwitz will produce. Michael De Luca and Lauren Abrahams will
oversee for Sony Pictures Entertainment.
THE DESTROYER is based on
the series of paperback novels in which Newark cop Remo Williams is
framed, sentenced to death, then resurrected following a botched
execution. The reason? To serve as enforcement arm for CURE, a
top-secret, extra-Constitutional arm of the U.S. government. Along with
a seemingly ageless – and often hilarious – Asian assassin known only
as Chiun, Williams sets out to "clean up" and take out those who oppose
America’s interests. The surprisingly-heartfelt stories combine edgy
old-school suspense with Eastern mysticism to produce unique, rapid-fire
capers full of slick banter, social satire, and sudden violence.
“Shane
has been a fan of the original DESTROYER book series since its
inception and he has an incredible vision for this film. Atlas couldn’t
be more fortunate to be working with this talented director on this
material,” said Charles Roven of Atlas Entertainment. “The narrative Jim
and James have created is incredibly rich and while it’s a story rooted
in adventure, it is also very much character driven.”
“The
Destroyer is a two-fisted classic and deserves no less than the genius
of Shane Black,” said Michael De Luca, president of Production for
Columbia Pictures.“We couldn't be more excited about his vision for this
character.”
Shane Black is currently attached to co-write and
direct DOC SAVAGE, based on the hero of pulp novels, films, and comic
books, for Columbia Pictures. Black most recently wrote and directed
IRON MAN 3, which became the fifth highest grossing film of all time
worldwide. He began his career in screenwriting, making his mark with
LETHAL WEAPON and collaborating on its sequel. Black’s directorial debut
came in 2005 with his critically acclaimed KISS KISS BANG BANG starring
Robert Downey, Jr. and Val Kilmer.
Jim Uhls is best known for
having written the screenplay for the classic film FIGHT CLUB directed
by David Fincher. Subsequently he has written a number of films and
television shows, having worked with the likes of Steven Spielberg,
Doug Liman, and Shane Black, to name a few. Jim began his career as an
original member of The Actors Gang when it was founded at UCLA.
James Mullaney is
a Shamus Award-nominated novelist who has written 37 books, as well as
comics and short stories. He is author of the Red Menaceseries of spy
thrillers and the comic-fantasy-noir Crag Banyon Mysteries
detective series.
Black is represented by WME and David Greenblatt
of GreenLit Creative. Uhls is represented by Paradigmand Anonymous
Content. Mullaney is represented by David Greenblatt as well.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES:
Sony
Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment
Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global
operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and
distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution;
television networks; digital content creation and distribution;
operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment
products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to
http://www.sonypictures.com.
ABOUT ATLAS ENTERTAINMENT:
Atlas
Entertainment, led by founder Charles Roven, produces blockbuster films
as well as critically acclaimed features. Atlas Entertainment’s films
have generated billions of dollars in revenues. Atlas is currently in
production on the highly anticipated feature film Batman v Superman:
Dawn of Justice for Warner Bros directed by Zack Snyder set for release
on
March 25, 2016.
Also upcoming, Atlas Entertainment is in post-production on Duncan
Jones’ Warcraft from Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures with a
March 11, 2016
release. Atlas Entertainment is also filming the SYFY series 12
Monkeys, a drama series based on the 1995 Universal Pictures film
directed by Terry Gilliam and produced by Charles Roven’s Atlas
Entertainment, slated to premiere January 2015. The Atlas team most
recently collaborated with David O. Russell on the critically acclaimed
box office hit American Hustle which has grossed more than 250 million
dollars in world wide box-office. Among its many accolades, the film
won 3 BAFTA awards, was nominated for 10 Academy Awards ® including a
Best Picture nomination for Atlas’ producers Charles Roven and Richard
Suckle. It also received seven Golden Globe® nominations, winning 3
including Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical.
ABOUT CURRENT ENTERTAINMENT:
Current
Entertainment, founded by Steven Chasman, has specialized in producing
cutting edge action films. Chasman’s latest production Wild Card, based
on the screenplay and novel Heat written by Academy Award-winner
William Goldman, and starring Jason Statham, Stanley Tucci, Hope Davis
and Sofia Vergara, will be released worldwide in the first quarter 2015.
Chasman and Current Entertainment have also produced a number of films
with Luc Besson, including the highly successful Transporter
Trilogy starring Statham, the Jet Li-starring films Kiss of the
Dragon and Unleashed, and Taxi starring Jimmy Fallon. Some of Current
Entertainment's other productions include: Taylor
Hackford-directed Parker based on the series of novels by Donald
Westlake, which starred Statham, Jennifer Lopez and Nick
Nolte, Blitz based on the novel by KenBruen, Killer Elite based on the
true story written by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, starring Statham, Robert
De Niro and Clive Owen, and alongside Charles Roven/Atlas Entertainment,
Roger Donaldson’s critically acclaimed The Bank Job, starring Statham
and based on the 1971 Baker Street bank robbery.
