Originally published by DC, the story follows a Black government assassin whose invisibility powers pass him off as a white man; project also backed by production outfits Color Farm Media and Illuminous.
With big plans to build a new franchise, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s G-Unit Film & Television has optioned Christopher Priest’s comic ‘Xerø.’ The company will develop the source material as a live-action feature alongside Color Farm Media. The comic was originally published by DC from 1997-98.
According to Deadline, Xerø “will follow a Black government assassin who weaponizes invisibility by disguising himself as a white man to blend anonymously into the exotic Casino Royale haunts of the international elite. Spanning the gulf between that and the disenfranchised city streets of East St. Louis, Illinois, Trane Walker is a man living in two worlds but taking ownership of neither. Xerø tells the story of his moral awakening and the life-and-death perils it presents.”
“There’s no one better than Christopher Priest to bring G-Unit Film & Television into the world of comic book superheroes,” Jackson told Deadline. “Watch as we build Xerø into a franchise alongside Christopher and Color Farm Media. I can’t wait for the world to meet Trane Walker in an all-new way.”
Priest said of the creative partnership,’“Xerø’ depicts a slow-moving car wreck at the intersection of race and class. The commonality of struggle represented by the life experiences of Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson, G-Unit Film & Television, and Color Farm assure a broad depth of first-hand appreciation for that delicate balance. It’s exciting to be working together to create this new world.”
“Priest is a master storyteller[, and] Xerø is a powerful project,” said Erika Alexander, who will serve as a producer on the project. “We’re thrilled to partner with Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson’s G-Unit Film & Television, the pre-eminent power players.”
G-Unit Film & Television will produce Xerø with Alexander and Ben Arnon for Color Farm, and Joseph Illidge, CEO of the newly formed production and publishing company Illuminous. A former Batman comics editor, Illidge previously worked with Priest on the Catalyst Prime Universe, a series centered on superheroes of color released by Lion Forge in 2017.
“Xerø is the perfect action hero for our times in a story that is equal parts James Bond and James Baldwin,” said Illidge. “G-Unit’s legacy of courageous, edge-of-your-seat thrillers about complex protagonists makes them the perfect partner to spearhead this franchise. After working with Christopher years ago, I’m thrilled to be reuniting with him on Xerø.”
Max Weinstein is a writer and editor based in Los Angeles. He is the Editor-at-Large of 'Dread Central' and former Editorial Director of 'MovieMaker.' His work has been featured in 'Cineaste,' 'Fangoria,' 'Playboy,' 'Vice,' and 'The Week.'
