hosted press release from WildStorm/DC Comics
Summit Entertainment Options Red
Summit Entertainment announced today that it has acquired the feature film rights to WildStorm/DC Comics’ comic book series RED. The high-velocity action film will be penned by brothers Erich Hoeber and Jon Hoeber. Lorenzo di Bonaventura will produce under his di Bonaventura film banner. Longtime di Bonaventura executive Mark Vahradian will also serve as producer. Gregory Noveck, DC Comics' Senior Vice President, Creative Affairs, will serve as executive producer and oversee the project for the comic book publisher.
Erik Feig, Summit's President of Production, stated, “We love this idea, we love the Hoebers, and we love Lorenzo di Bonaventura " who has the knack, along with Mark Vahradian, of finding great source material and turning it into homerun movie franchises. We are also thrilled and honored that WildStorm/DC Comics has picked Summit as the first studio outside their corporate parent with which to make a movie.”
Bonaventura said, “This is great material and I'm so glad to be working with Summit on this project as we both love the comic book and have similar ideas of how to turn this material into a really cool movie.”
“RED is a great miniseries from one of today's most visceral comic book creators,” said Noveck. “Warren's writing and Cully's images have provided a great jumping off point for the Hoebers, who have fashioned a great world and really fun and engaging characters. We look forward to working with Lorenzo and Mark as well as Erik, Geoff and everyone at summit to take the audience on a thrilling ride.”
Based on the WildStorm/DC Comics comic book series written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Cully Hamner, RED tells the story of Frank Moses, a former black-ops CIA agent now living a quiet life in retirement until the day a hi-tech assassin shows up intent on killing him. With his secret identity compromised and his love interest, Sarah, in danger, Frank must reassemble his old team to figure out who is out to get them.
Upcoming theatrical releases featuring DC Comics characters include the highly anticipated films THE DARK KNIGHT and WATCHMEN. Recent DC Comics properties brought to the big screen include V FOR VENDETTA, CONSTANTINE, SUPERMAN RETURNS and BATMAN BEGINS.
The Hoebers most recently penned WHITEOUT, which will be released theatrically later this year as well as ALICE and THE PACT.
Di Bonaventura is currently in production on G.I. JOE based on the original comic book series. He begins production on TRANSFORMERS 2 this summer. Di Bonaventura recently finished production on NOWHERLAND starring Eddie Murphy.
Feig along with Summit Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Production Geoff Shaevitz will oversee the project for the studio. Andrew Matosich, Summit’s Executive Vice President of Business Affairs, and Karen Barna, Summit’s Vice President of Business Affairs, negotiated the deal on behalf of the studio.
Both Erich and Jon Hoeber are represented by the Endeavor Agency and manager Angela Cheng-Kaplan.
About Summit Entertainment LLC
Summit Entertainment is a worldwide theatrical motion picture development, financing, production and distribution studio. The studio handles all aspects of marketing and distribution for both its own internally developed motion pictures as well as acquired pictures. Summit Entertainment, LLC also represents international sales for both its own slate and third party product. Summit Entertainment, LLC plans to release 10 to 12 films annually.
About DC Comics
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC super heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.
Page last updated on October 12, 2008