In news that seems to have come from nowhere, Millennium Media has announced that filming is underway on its long-planned Red Sonja reboot, with M.J. Bassett (Solomon Kane) directing and Matilda Lutz (Revenge, Medici) in the title role as the She-Devil with a Sword.
“I’ve wanted to make a Red Sonja movie since I was a teenager – she has been a powerful presence for me and a character that I have always wanted to bring to the screen with my own voice and vision,” states M.J. Bassett, who is directing from a script by Transparent creator Joey Soloway. “When I met Matilda Lutz, I knew she had all the magic I was looking for and could see the complexity and depth she would bring to Sonja.”
Based on the heroine created by Robert E. Howard and adapted by Roy Thomas, Red Sonja will see Lutz starring alongside Wallis Day (Batwoman) as Annisia, Robert Sheehan (The Umbrella Academy) as Draygan, Michael Bisping (xXx: Return of Xander Cage) as Hawk, Martyn Ford (F9: The Fast Saga) as General Karlak, Eliza Matengu (Thor: Love and Thunder) as Amarak, Manal El Feitury (Code Red) as Ayala, and Katrina Durden (Doctor Strange) as Saevus.
“This has been a long journey from script to screen and we are excited to go into production after assembling the best creative team, an amazing band of up and coming talent and a fun and fantastical world fueled by the Red Sonja IP. M.J. is an amazing filmmaker with fantastic vision and Matilda was absolutely brilliant in Revenge that we knew she was right for this role the moment we saw her – making them the perfect duo for Red Sonja,” adds Millennium Media’s President, Jeffrey Greenstein.
“I’ve been working with the Millennium production team on adapting this extraordinary graphic novel since Luke Lieberman brought it to us seven years ago. M.J. is a fantastic filmmaker who truly understands the power of this story that will ignite audiences everywhere. In the realm of fantasy and graphic novels, there is no greater, more empowered female character who has stood the test of time. Courtney Solomon and I are privileged to be a part of this fabulous producing team,” says producer Mark Canton.
Red Sonja was originally brought to the big screen back in 1985, with Brigitte Nielsen starring as the sword and sorcery heroine alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger [read our review of the new 4K release here]. A reboot has been planned for over a decade, with Robert Rodriguez (Sin City), Simon West (Con Air), Bryan Singer (X-Men) and Soloway all attached to direct at one point or another and Rose McGowan (Scream) and Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp) both previously cast as the lead.
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