Vin Diesel may be set for the role of Bloodshot in Sony’s adaptation of Valiant Comics.
For quite some time now Sony Pictures have been looking to launch a shared universe based around Valiant Comic Books stable of 2,000 superhero characters, having first announced their intentions to do so back in 2016.
Similarly actor Vin Diesel has been looking to make the leap into the genre, aside from providing his vocal talents as Groot in Marvel Studios’ Guardians Of The Galaxy films. Rumours circulated at one time that Diesel was the top choice for Black Bolt in Marvel’s Inhumans movie, prior to the project eventually ending up as a very disappointing television show, following its removal from the Marvel Cinematic Universe slate of planned films.
Reports are now emerging that both may get their wish shortly, with rumours that the Fast and Furious star is in talks with the studio about taking on the role of Valiant character Bloodshot in Sony’s planned movie adaptation, which is said to be yet again in the development stages.
Fast and Furious series producer Neal Moritz is reportedly on board to produce. This would obviously give Diesel a good inside track on landing the role. Arrival writer Eric Heisserer is said to be set to pen the script, with Blur Studio’s VFX artist Dave Wilson directing.
Created by Kevin VanHook and Yvel Guichet, the superhero Bloodshot first appeared in 1992. The character, a former soldier, possesses regeneration and shape-shifting powers via nano-machines in his bloodstream. Bloodshot also has super-human strength and the ability to interface with machines via his thoughts. After numerous brain-wipes, Bloodshot has lost touch with his memories, and sets out Jason Bourne-like to find his true identity.
The project is said to be aimed at the R-rated comic book movie market, following the recent successes of Logan and Deadpool.
The movie is far from confirmed at this stage though and has gone through various stages of development previously, with Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn in talks to take it on way back in 2010 and John Wick directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski seemingly set to be taking it over in 2015. There was also speculation that Jared Leto was involved in the project last year, with other actors such as Oscar Isaac, James McAvoy, Jake Gyllenhaal, Nicholas Hoult, and Mark Wahlberg all linked to the titular role st some point.
With Sony looking to launch a franchise based around the Marvel character Venom with Tom Hardy in the lead role and already filming, it remains to be seen if they will be willing to take the risk of starting another comic book adapted film franchise just yet.
Sources; The Wrap, Screen Rant.