Universal Pictures has tapped NIGHTWATCH director Timur Bekmambetov to make his English-language debut with the sci-fi actioner, WANTED, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. James McAvoy, who made a big impression as Mr. Tumnus, the Faun, in THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, will star.
Based on a comicbook series by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones published by Top Cow, the story chronicles a put-upon young man who learns that his long-lost father is an assassin. After his dad is slain, the son is recruited into a covert organization of killers and trained to fill his fathers place.
Universal-based Marc Platt will produce with Jason Netter and Jim Lemley. Top Cow's Marc Silvestri is exec producing. Derek Haas and Michael Brandt (2 FAST 2 FURIOUS) wrote the screenplay.
Universal vp production Jeff Kirschenbaum and creative exec David Ortiz will shepherd the film.
Production is set for first-quarter 2007 with a budget of less than $100 million.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
