Godzilla vs. Kongdirector Adam Wingard has been tapped to direct a film adaptation of the Skybound comicHardcoreforUniversal Pictures. The project is based on the comic fromInvinciblecreator Robert Kirkman and is described as an action/sci-fi thriller following a soldier’s journey as he tries to avoid getting his hands dirty while trying to save the world.
Wingard will adaptHardcorealongside sophomore writer Will Simmons based on an original script outline from Kirkman.Hardcoreis just the latest project Wingard has been attached to after the recent box officesuccess ofGodzilla vs. Kong.
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In February, it was announced that Wingard would direct and co-write a sequel to the Nicolas Cage/ John Travolta action movieFace/Off.In March, Wingard was then attached to direct afilm adaptation ofThunderCats.The filmmaker is co-writing both projects with his frequent collaborator Simon Barrett. Wingard’s latest film,Godzilla vs. Kong, has been a surprise box office darling. With movie theatres opening up for the first time in a while, the monster movie has netted over $400 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing U.S. movie release during the pandemic. Wingard is also in talks to direct another MonsterVerse film for Legendary Entertainment, which producedGodzilla vs. Kong.
Hardcorewas a comic book series created by Kirkman and Marc Silvestri. The official synopsis reads, “Imagine being able to take over the body of anyone on Earth. Sound crazy? Not for Agent Drake and the Hardcore Program. They can turn any person into a human drone to get to targets that normal soldiers can’t. Drake is the best soldier Hardcore has to offer. But when he gets stranded in a body with only 72 hours to discover who’s hijacked the Program, he’ll have to pull out all the stops against an enemy who could be literally anyone.”
If that sounds familiar, ComicBook.com pointed out that the concept does bear some resemblance to the2020 filmPossessor,directed by Brandon Cronenberg, the son of horror mastermind David Cronenberg.Possessoris a sci-fi/horror film about an assassin who can take control of other people’s bodies using brain implant technology, allowing her to take out high-profile targets. While the two projects do bear some similarity, it’s likely that Wingard’s film will focus more on the action side of things, rather than the trademark Cronenberg body horror ofPossessor.
Kirkman is perhaps best known for writing/ creatingTheWalking Dead,the comic which served as the inspiration for the extremely popular AMC TV series of the same name. The series is going into its 11th and final season this year and hasinspired severalWalking Deadspin-offs, includingFear the Walking DeadandThe Walking Dead: World Beyond.Kirkman has also seen some recent success with the adult animated seriesInvincible, which is also an adaptation of a comic written by him. The series follows a regular teenage boy whose father happens to be the most powerful superhero on the planet. As the boy begins to develop superpowers after his seventh birthday he starts to follow in his father’s footsteps, but soon discovers that his father’s legacy may not be as heroic as he thought.
