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| "Witchblade: The Movie" teaser poster |
Last month, the big screen adaptation of Top Cow’s “Witchblade” was officially announced. The franchise, which has already spawned a two-season TV series back in 2000 and more recently a Japanese anime, is being developed for a live-action theatrical release by Platinum Studios, Top Cow Productions and Arclight Films. Top Cow’s Marc Silverstri and Matt Hawkins are executive producing the film, and CBR News caught up with Hawkins to get some early details on the fledgling production.
The Witchblade is a mystical gauntlet that has been passed down from wielder to chosen wielder for generations. Only bearable by women, the Witchblade’s current wielder is former NYC cop Sara Pezzini. “This will be a reimagining of sorts, so it will include elements from the comics and the core mythology, with some new twists,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins said it was too early to discuss the casting process, but “Battlestar Galactica” alum, Michael Rymer, is being tapped to direct the film. “Platinum has been our overall partner for film and TV for several years now and we¹ve developed several things with them, the Witchblade film will be the first fruit of that partnership,” Hawkins said. “Arclight was brought in by Platinum as a financier, distributor, production company for the film.”
Arclight is based in Australia, and the production is planning a location shoot in the land down under. “The Aussie government gives certain tax breaks and incentives to shoot in Australia which allows us a bigger budget to make a better movie,” Hawkins said.
And what’s the status of Top Cow’s other potential film projects? “A film option doesn’t mean shit, but we have multiple things as 'potentials' or options at this point,” Hawkins said. Hawkins did add that the most likely targets are “The Darkness,” “Hunter-Killer,” “Madame Mirage” and “The Freshmen.”
Since “The Darkness” and “Witchblade” comic series are oft intertwined, CBR asked if there was any chance the film franchises will crossover as well? “Anything is possible,” Hawkins said. “I’ve been vying for that in the video game world for a while now. I think that may happen before a film one happens.”
The production hasn’t set an official release date for the “Witchblade” film, but Hawkins said that all involved are hoping to have the film in the can and ready for release sometime in 2009.
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Keywords: cci2008, top cow, witchblade