Lakeshore Entertainment and Hopscotch Features have tapped David Hayter (X-Men, Watchmen) to pen the screenplay for their upcoming The Sword, a stylistic, action-packed tale of vengeance based on the graphic novel of the same name by Jonathan and Joshua Luna (The Luna Brothers). Lakeshore’s Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi, along with Skip Williamson, and Hopscotch’s Andrew Mason, will produce, with Hopscotch’s Troy Lum executive producing.
The graphic novel is divided into four volumes, offering another potential franchise property for Lakeshore following the global success of the Underworld franchise, which has grossed more than $460M worldwide. Production on the first installment of The Sword is slated to begin early 2014.
“David has a proven track record of bringing the multifaceted, beloved characters of graphic novels to mainstream audiences and we’re excited that he’ll be joining us for ‘The Sword,’” said Lakeshore Entertainment Chairman and CEO Tom Rosenberg. “Lakeshore has a history of delivering large-scale genre films at a budget that enables our international independent distributors to participate, and ‘The Sword’ will provide that opportunity.”
The Sword tells the story of a young paraplegic, Dara Brighton, who leads an ordinary existence until her family is brutally murdered by a mysterious trio, possessed of god-like, supernatural abilities. Left for dead, Dara discovers an ancient sword belonging to her father, indicating that his past may have been much longer, and stranger, than she could have ever suspected. The sword not only restores her ability to walk, but it grants her a constantly evolving array of spectacular physical powers. With her new weapon in hand, and two faithful friends at her side, Dara Brighton embarks on a journey to hunt down and destroy her family’s assassins.
Lakeshore and Hopscotch previously collaborated on the upcoming Aaron Eckhart-starrer, I, Frankenstein, which will be released in January 2014.
