Marvel Cinematic Universe, you say? DC Extended Universe on your mind? Well, Valiant Entertainment is trying very hard to make sure that in the next few years theValiant cinematic universeis just as much a part of the pop culture conversation. The latest step they have taken is hiring director Reginald Hudlin to helm their in-the-works movie adaptation of their cult favorite comicShadowman.
As reported byComicbook.com, Valiant is moving ahead withShadowmanin-house before taking the project out to studios. Bringing onReginald Hudlinis a big step in that process. If you don’t know the name, you’re probably not alone. Hudlin has primarily been known as a TV director, but his movieMarshallis coming out later this year. And back in the early 90s, he did direct a little cult movie calledHouse Partywith iconic rappers Kid ‘n Play. He also directed Eddie Murphy inBoomerang, as well as the SNL spin-off movieThe Ladies Man. As for those of you who aren’t familiar with theShadowmancomics, here is a synopsis of the series courtesy of Valiant.
“There are a million dreams in the Big Easy. But now its worst nightmare is about to come true. As the forces of darkness prepare to claim New Orleans as their own, Jack Boniface must accept the legacy he was born to uphold. As Shadowman, Jack is about to become the only thing that stands between his city and an army of unspeakable monstrosities from beyond the night. But what is the true cost of the Shadowman’s otherworldly power? And can Jack master his new abilities before Master Darque brings down the wall between reality and the darkness of the dimension known as Deadside?”
If you haven’t readShadowmanbut you have seen Marvel’sDoctor Strange, which outperformed expectations at the box office by bringing in $677 million worldwide, then you may be thinking that this sounds vaguely familiar. That’s because it does bare similarities toDoctor Strange, in general terms. Man becomes empowered and has to protect the world using something resembling magic from other dimensional forces. InDoctor Strange,Dormammuhailed from the Dark Dimension and, as you’re able to see from that synopsis, the bad guys come from the Deadside. It’s hard to ignore where there are parallels, which might explain whyShadowmanis one of the properties being developed for the big screen over at Valiant.
Valiant has quite a few projects in various stages of development. The most notable is the five-picture-deal they have at Sony to bringBloodshotandHarbingerto the big screen, which will culminate in aHarbinger Warscrossover movie.Archer & Armstrongis also being developed by Valiant with Terry Rossio andZombielanddirector Ruben Fleischer. It was also recently announced thatAvengers: Infinity Wardirectors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo are developingQuantum and Woodyfor television. Lastly, Valiant Digital is currently shooting a web series, Ninjak vs. The Valiant Universe. So they are dipping their toes in every platform at this point.
Since there isn’t even a studio attached, there is no word on whenShadowmanis going to hit theaters, if it even gets that far. Reginald Hudlin will be rewriting theShadowmanscreenplay withSalemshowrunner Adam Simon. The current draft was written by J. Michael Straczynski (World War Z,Thor), who is still involved as an executive producer.
