Sony and Kirman Join Forces? – Robert Kirkman of The Walking Dead fame and his company Skybound Entertainment is going to partner with Sony to launch a new production company called Skybound Galactic.

The new company will seek to develop Image Comic properties into television, as well as secondary groups, like Top Cow.  Rick Jacobs will lead the new pairing, and Sony will finance the company in exchange for international distribution rights.

There are already two announced projects.  The first is from Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson’s Nailbiter series and will be adapted by Scott Kosar.  The second is Thief of Thieves, a Kirkman series and that’ll be developed by Evan Endicott and Josh Stoddard.  Oz Perkins and Assaf Bernstein will direct the Nailbiter and Thief of Thieves pilots respectively.

Two of the announced projects are Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson’s acclaimed horror series Nailbiter, being adapted by Scott Kosar (Bates Motel), and Kirkman’s own comic book series Thief of Thieves, developed by Evan Endicott and Josh Stoddard (Warrior). Oz Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter) is attached to direct the Nailbiter pilot, while the Thief of Thieves pilot will be directed by Assaf Bernstein (The Debt).

Also optioned for television through Skybound Galactic are two titles from Top Cow, which has a first-look deal with the new venture. Included in the deal are television options for Matt Hawkins and Rahsan Ekedal’s high-tech crypto-thriller series Think Tank and the long-running horror series The Darkness created by Marc Silvestri, Garth Ennis and David Wohl. Top Cow founder Marc Silvestri and President Matt Hawkins will serve as executive producers.

Skybound Entertainment Chairman Robert Kirkman, CEO David Alpert, and Managing Partner Jon Goldman will each serve on the board for Skybound Galactic along with Jacobs.

The Rock Starring in American Folklore Film – Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson will star in a retelling of the great American folklore tale of John Henry, called John Henry and the Statesmen.  John Henry is an iconic piece of American Folklore, as a former slave, turned railroad spike driver.  The story goes that he faced a machine in a competition of who could drive railroad spikes faster, which he ultimately won, but at a grave cost.  The feeling this film is giving off is that John Henry will team up with other iconic folklore names ike Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and Calamity Jane; similar to the film Tall Tales.  Henry tweeted out a teaser below, followed by a quote from him from his Instagram page. 

When the man comes around..
Honored to play a childhood hero of mine, JOHN HENRY & his disruptive band of fellow folklore legends from around the world. @netflix are the perfect partners and platform to build.
Directed by Jake Kasdan (JUMANJI).
JOHN HENRY & THE STATESMEN 🌎🔨 pic.twitter.com/vJ0nkCYXDH

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) October 9, 2018

 

Inspired to bring to life one of my childhood heroes, John Henry, in JOHN HENRY & THE STATESMEN.

In this movie, I’ll lead an ensemble of the most popular folklore figures and legends from different cultures around the world.
[Netflix] is the perfect partner & platform to bring these global folklore icons to life. The NETFLIX brand speaks directly to our @sevenbucksprod ethos of being bold, ambitious and game changing – and most importantly, always thinking “Audience first” in homes all around the world.

The legend of JOHN HENRY’S strength, endurance, dignity and cultural pride was instilled in my DNA at a very young age. My dad would sing “Big John” to me every time he would put me to bed. At bedtime most children get loving nursery rhyme songs — I got this/

Every mornin’ at the mine, you could see him arrive. He stood 6 foot 6 and weighed 245.
Kind of broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip. And everybody knew you didn’t give no lip to Big John.
Big John. Big Bad John.

Directing this big ol’ tentpole is the talented and passionate, Jake Kasdan. Jake and I found nice success together in a little movie called, JUMANJI. Gonna be a lot of fun bringing these legends to life. My childhood hero. The steel driving man and his disruptive band of international folklore legends. JOHN HENRY & THE STATESMEN 

John Henry the legend is the inspiration for John Henry Irons of DC Comics fame, who would later become Steel; so clearly I’m super into this film.

Quick Hits – WarnerMedia (Warner Bros) is set to launch a new streaming service, expected late next year, that will compete with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and the upcoming Disney Play; according to Warner CEO John Stankey.  Collider is reporting that Morbius the Living Vampire will begin shooting soon, but won’t be Rated-R.  Kraven the Hunter screenwriter Richard Wenk told Discussing Film that he intends on Kraven meeting Spider-Man at some point and will adapt things from the Kraven’s Last Hunt story line. Former Suicide Squad director David Ayer took to Twitter to voice his opinion on James Gunn being named the new Suicide Squad director/writer, saying;

I think it’s an incredibly brave and smart move by the studio. James is the right man for the job! https://t.co/KaVD3dQosR

— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) October 9, 2018

The first trailer for Godzilla: Planet Eater has been released.