After spending nearly fifteen years in development hell, the Red Sonja reboot has finally started filming! Millennium Media has announced that Red Sonja is being directed by M.J. Bassett (Solomon Kane) and stars Matilda Lutz (Revenge) as the title character.
Bassett came on board to direct the film five months ago when previously attached director Joey Soloway (Transparent) and star Hannah John-Kamen left the project. Bassett is still working from the screenplay Soloway wrote with Tasha Huo (Netflix’s Tomb Raider anime). This version of Red Sonja is derived from the sword and sorcery comic books by Dynamite Entertainment, based on the character created by Robert E. Howard and adapted by Roy Thomas.
Lutz is joined in the cast by Wallis Day (Sex/Life) as Annisia, Robert Sheehan (The Umbrella Academy) as Draygan, Michael Bisping (xXx: Return of Xander Cage) as Hawk, Martyn Ford (F9: The Fast Saga) as General Karlak, Eliza Matengu (Thor: Love and Thunder) as Amarak, Manal El Feitury (Code Red) as Ayala, and Katrina Durden (Doctor Strange) as Saevus.
Red Sonja is being produced by Jeffrey Greenstein, Mark Canton, Courtney Solomon, Christa Campbell, Lati Grobman, Andrea Sperling, Yariv Lerner, Jonathan Yunger, Les Weldon, Joe Gatta, and Tanner Mobley. Avi Lerner, Boaz Davidson, Trevor Short, Luke Lieberman, Nick Barrucci, and Dorothy Canton serve as executive producers.
Bassett provided the following statement:
I’ve wanted to make a Red Sonja movie since I was a teenager – she has been a powerful presence for me and a character that I have always wanted to bring to the screen with my own voice and vision. When I met Matilda Lutz, I knew she had all the magic I was looking for and could see the complexity and depth she would bring to Sonja.”
Greenstein added:
This has been a long journey from script to screen and we are excited to go into production after assembling the best creative team, an amazing band of up and coming talent and a fun and fantastical world fueled by the Red Sonja IP. M.J. is an amazing filmmaker with fantastic vision and Matilda was absolutely brilliant in Revenge that we knew she was right for this role the moment we saw her – making them the perfect duo for Red Sonja.”
And Canton had this to say:
I’ve been working with the Millennium production team on adapting this extraordinary graphic novel since Luke Lieberman brought it to us seven years ago. M.J. is a fantastic filmmaker who truly understands the power of this story that will ignite audiences everywhere. In the realm of fantasy and graphic novels, there is no greater, more empowered female character who has stood the test of time. Courtney Solomon and I are privileged to be a part of this fabulous producing team.”
Red Sonja has passed through the hands of multiple directors over the years: Robert Rodriguez, Simon West, Bryan Singer, Soloway. Several screenwriters have written drafts of the script. And in addition to John-Kamen, Rose McGowan and Amber Heard were also up for the title role at times.
Bassett has previously directed Deathwatch, Wilderness, Solomon Kane, Silent Hill: Revelation, Rogue, Endangered Species, and episodes of Ash vs. Evil Dead, Iron Fist, and Reacher, among other credits. That’s a hit and miss list, but what makes we excited about her version of Red Sonja is the choice of Lutz as the star. I’m a big fan of Revenge, so I can’t wait to watch Lutz cut down enemies with a sword.