Report: Sony acquires film rights to Valiant’s Bloodshot

According to Deadline, Sony Pictures has closed a deal to acquire film rights to Bloodshot, the Valiant Comics series.

Bloodshot has been rumored as a possible film for some time, at one point attracting the interest of Matthew Vaughn. Vaughn isn’t involved with this project, Deadline reports.

Warren Simons, Valiant editor-in-chief told me last June when asked about Bloodshot.

“We have a number of film projects in various stages of development.  We can’t discuss them just yet, but fans should stay tuned for upcoming announcements!”

Valiant Comics retweeted a link to the Deadline story, and also said via twitter: “So Hollywood bumped our big @ValiantComics announcement to next week, but it will be worth the wait!”

Yesterday, Valiant Comics tweeted: “Make sure you stay tuned in Valiant faithful! Tomorrow brings a major announcement from @ValiantComics HQ…a harbinger of what is to come.”

That’s a likely reference to Harbinger, one of the most popular Valiant Comics of the 1990s, which featured a team of superpowered teens on the run.

Bloodshot was part of the original Valiant Comics in 1992, first introduced in “Eternal Warrior” No. 4.   “Bloodshot” No. 1, released in 1994, sold over 1 million copies.  It was written by Kevin VanHook and drawn by Don Perlin.

Angelo Mortalli is a mob killer who is set up and framed.  He ‘s found by the mob after entering witness protection, and subjected to an experimental process that make him into a human weapon with nanite-infused blood.  With his memory lost, Mortalli — now called Bloodshot — seeks out his past and those who wish to kill him.

With promotional art by David Aja released by the new Valiant Comics, speculation is high that Bloodshot will be part of the new Valiant Comics universe.  The first series from the new Valiant, “X-O Manowar” No. 1, debuts May 2.

UPDATE: Here’s the full release on the film.

Columbia Pictures is closing a deal to acquire the rights to adapt Bloodshot, the bestselling Valiant comic book character, into a feature film to be produced by Neal H. Moritz through his Original Film banner and Jason Kothari and Dinesh Shamdasani on behalf of Valiant Entertainment, it was announced today by Hannah Minghella, president of production for Columbia Pictures. Jeff Wadlow will write the screenplay.