Paramount Pictures has snatched the upcoming comic book adaptation Harbinger from Sony, leaving the studio’s plans for a crossover with Bloodshot in limbo.
THR reports that filmmaker Justin Tipping and the latest draft of the Harbinger script by him and Joshua Beirne-Golden will also make the jump from Sony to Paramount. This Harbinger draft was worked off of Arrival scribe Eric Heisserer’s original draft. Neal Moritz (Fast & Furious; Sonic the Hedgehog) will also remain on the project as a producer given that his first-look deal transferred from Sony to Paramount last year.
According to THR, production on Harbinger was originally set to begin in the summer or this autumn, even citing that actors Dylan O’Brien and Noah Centineo were circling the project based on the Valiant Comics series of the same name.
Harbinger moving from Sony to Paramount puts a wrench in Valiant’s plans in establishing a shared cinematic universe. Valiant planned on producing films for both Harbinger and Bloodshot, with sequels for each leading up to a crossover film based on 2013’s Harbinger Wars. Given that Sony’s Bloodshot film starring Vin Diesel filmed earlier this year and will hit theaters on February 21, 2020, the development of a potential franchise will lean solely on the potential success of that one film for its own sequels now that a crossover with Harbinger is unlikely given that project now under Paramount.
Valiant Comics’ Harbinger series is centered on a group of teenagers with superpowers that rebel against the corporation that fought to harness their special abilities to achieve their ends. Harbinger was created by Jim Shooter and David Lapham and was first published in January 1992. The initial run occurred from 1992 to June 1995 under Valiant Comics and then occurred from June 2012 to July 2014 under Valiant Entertainment.
What do you make of this news regarding Harbinger moving to Paramount? Are you disappointed that it will no longer crossover with Sony and Valiant’s Bloodshot franchise? Sound off in the comments below, and be sure to continue following Heroic Hollywood for all the latest news regarding Harbinger, Bloodshot and other future Valiant Comics adaptations under Paramount and Sony.
Here is the official synopsis for Bloodshot:
After he and his wife are murdered, Marine Ray Garrison (played by Vin Diesel) is resurrected by a secret team of scientists. Enhanced with nanotechnology, he becomes a superhuman, biotech killing machine – “Bloodshot.” As Ray first trains with fellow super-soldiers, he cannot recall anything from his former life. But when his memories flood back and he remembers the man that killed both he and his beautiful wife, he breaks out of the facility hellbent on revenge, only to discover that there’s more to the conspiracy than he thought.
Directed by Dave Wilson from a script written by Jeff Wadlow and Eric Heisserer, Bloodshot stars Vin Diesel, Sam Heughan, Guy Pearce, Eiza González, Toby Kebbell, Talulah Riley, Alex Hernandez, Lamorne Morris and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson.
Bloodshot is scheduled to be released in theaters on February 21, 2020.
Source: THR