Vin Dieselmay be adding another franchise to his docket. PerThe Wrap, theFast & FuriousandGuardians of the Galaxyactor is in talks to star in Sony Pictures’Bloodshotmovie, based on the Valiant comic. Sony announced in 2015 that itwas striking a deal with Valiantto adapt a series of comics for the big screen, andBloodshotandHarbingeremerged as top priorities in what is planned as a five-film shared universe.
The story ofBloodshotcenters on a mob killer named Angelo Mortalli who enters a witness protection program. When he is betrayed by a handler, he becomes part of a secret experiment to create the ultimate killing machine. His memories are erased and he is injected with microscopic computers called nanites, which turn him into an unstoppable force. With new strength to spare, he tries to rediscover who he was while battling both the mob and the police.
Last summer,Jared Letowas circling the lead role in this film, but it appears he ultimately parted ways with the project.Dave Wilson, a partner atDeadpooldirectorTim Miller’s Blur Studios, is set to direct the film from a screenplay byArrivalwriterEric Heisserer.
The plan here is to create an R-rated comic adaptation “that will be tonally and aesthetically influenced by high-concept sci-fi blockbusters of the late 80s,” withRobocop,Terminator, andTotal Recallname dropped. That’s certainly an interesting angle, but I’m not exactly sure Diesel has the kind of charisma or self-awareness to carry that kind of film.
If Diesel does sign on he’ll be reuniting with hisFast and FuriousproducerNeal Moritz. Universal is still figuring outFast & Furious 9, which is planned as the penultimate installment of the franchise and has an April 2020 release date. No director is yet attached but it’s been rumored thatJustin Linmay return and finish out the franchise. Of course, the series went through some drama last year when it was announced thatDwayne JohnsonandJason Statham’s spinoff will come first, prompting some of theFastactors to voice their displeasure.
In addition toGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3Diesel also hasxXx 4in development, having revived that action franchise with last year’sxXx: The Return of Xander Cage, which flopped domestically but scored over $300 million overseas. Indeed, Diesel is a massive draw for international audiences, which explains why Sony would be eager to secure him as the cornerstone of their new shared universe.
