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The 'Witchblade' feature film is on the fast track with cameras set to start rolling this September in Australia.
Platinum Studios, Top Cow Prods. and Arclight Films are teaming up to launch the film franchise.
Plans are to shoot the film on location in Australia. The exact story line and nature of the script is being kept under wraps, but will reportedly stay true to the Witchblade mythology, which centers around a deadly ornate gauntlet that gives superpowers to the wearer, a chosen female bearer of each generation, who possesses it.
Lest readers think this is just an empty announcement, Arclight CEO Gary Hamilton says he aims to move fast on the project.
"'Witchblade' is one of the premier comic-book titles in the world," said Gary Hamilton, CEO of Arclight. "This property is the cornerstone of our upcoming production and sales slate and we hope to be able to start production in September 2008."
"In my opinion, Witchblade is one of the finest comic-book properties yet to be made into a full-length feature film," said Platinum Studios' Rosenberg. "'I believe that Witchblade's fantastic origin, intriguing mystery and wonderful story should satisfy the core audience while giving all moviegoers an amazing ride."
"We have been looking for the right opportunity to bring Witchblade to the big screen," said Marc Silvestri, CEO of Top Cow. "We are fortunate to have production partners who value the story and the characters so much and have a shared vision."
The article does not name screenwriters, directors or actor attachments to the project. Hamilton, Nigel Odell, head of Arclight's production operations, Platinum Studios' CEO Scott Mitchell Rosenberg and Steve Squillante of Havenwood Media are all set to produce. Top Cow's CEO Marc Silvestri and President Matt Hawkins would serve as executive producers as would Platinum Studios' Rich Marincic. Former Universal Pictures senior executive Randy Greenberg of the Greenberg Group, who helped negotiate the deal with Platinum Studios General Counsel, Helene Pretsky, would also executive produce. Hawkins and attorney Harris Miller negotiated on behalf of Top Cow.
The book was previously adapted into a TNT television series, which is due out on DVD later this year as well as an anime TV series.
Platinum Studios's film and TV division has various other properties in development at major film studios, including "Atlantis Rising" at DreamWorks and Kurtzman/Orci ("Transformers") set to produce "Cowboys and Aliens" again at DreamWorks with Kurtzman/Orci partnering with Universal Pictures partnering with Imagine Entertainment, and "Unique" at Walt Disney Pictures. Platinum Studio has also recently announced its partnering with Hyde Park Entertainment to co-produce "Dead of Night," based on the beloved Italian comic book series, Dylan Dog.
Top Cow's TV series Witchblade, which was TNT's #1 original show of 2000, is set to have the 2001-2002 episodes released on DVD on July 29, 2008. Top Cow's The Darkness, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. Additionally, Top Cow has turned Wanted, the best-selling Eisner Award-nominated miniseries and graphic novel published by Top Cow and written by comics superstar Mark Millar, into a major motion picture that is being released wide on June 27, 2008 by Universal Pictures. The film stars Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, and Morgan Freeman and is directed by Timur Bekmambetov.
