Not even a week ago, we brought you the news that AVATAR 4 screenwriter Shane Salerno was developing a big budget action franchise based on the 600+ volume pulp novel series THE EXECUTIONER. Well, now we have a studio, a star, and a potential director linked to the adventures of Mack Bolan. According to Deadline, Warner Bros has picked up the film which will be produced by Bradley Cooper and Todd Phillips who may star and direct it, respectively.
Cooper, who has recently starred in AMERICAN HUSTLE, voiced Rocket in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, and just completed AMERICAN SNIPER for Clint Eastwood, has not starred in a true action movie since Joe Carnahan‘s THE A-TEAM. This would mark his first potential franchise as the lead if he takes the role. Cooper and Phillips have worked together on the three HANGOVER films which have some mild action scenes.
With THE EXECUTIONER series having eyed everyone from Eastwood and Steve McQueen to Sylvester Stallone and Vin Diesel, Cooper seems a very different choice for the lead. But, I like Cooper and he definitely bulked up for AMERICAN SNIPER so this could be an interesting project if handled correctly.
THE EXECUTIONER has no release date yet but I would expect it to get underway sometime in 2015 for a potential 2016 release.