With Vin Diesel aboard to star, Sony is pushing ahead with comics adaptation Bloodshot, with which it hopes to launch a cinematic universe based on Valiant Comics titles. Now the studio has Michael Sheen, Baby Driver's Eiza Gonzalez and Outlander man Sam Heughan joining the cast.
Dave Wilson, more usually found working with Deadpool director Tim Miller at their Blur Studios company, is stepping up to make his own directorial debut, with the film based on the 1992 Valiant title, created by Kevin VanHook, Yvel Guichet, Don Perlin and Bob Layton. It follows Angelo Mortalli, a former mob hit man double-crossed by the family and framed for murder. Taken into witness protection, he’s betrayed again, this time by the FBI agent who was assigned to guard him, and kidnapped as part of a secret government program. His mind is wiped clean (so they think) and he’s infused with nanites to turn him into a super soldier with inhuman strength and healing ability.
Of course, something goes a bit wrong and he escapes. With just fragments of his memories remaining, he goes looking for those who wronged him and tries to figure out exactly who he is… Arrival's Eric Heisserer, who has been busy creating his own comicbook worlds, wrote the script.
Sheen has various movies on the way, including a voice in The Voyage Of Doctor Dolittle. Gonzalez will be seen in Alita: Battle Angel, due out on 26 December. Heughan, meanwhile, has The Spy Who Dumped Me headed to UK screens on 27 August.
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