Last week it was revealed that although a Harbinger film is being fast-tracked via Sony Pictures and being written by Lights Out and Arrival scribe Eric Heisserer, it appears Valiant Comics is also working on a crazy web-series involving Ninjak, Bloodshot and many more. See who they’ve cast thus far, what they look like and what the hell they’re doing by clicking RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW.
The Web-series Plans
Bat in the Sun, a movie/web series production studio has been enlisted by Valiant to produce a Live-Action Ninjak series, which looks like it will also feature Bloodshot somewhere in the mix. Michael Rowe (Deadshot in the Arrow TV series) will be playing Ninjak, a British spy and ninja (obviously) while Jason David Frank (the Green Ranger from Power Rangers fame) will be appearing as Bloodshot. Both actors were revealed in full costume/make-up for the upcoming Ninjak web series, but a full announcement is expected shortly at NYCC.
Michael Rowe as Ninjak
Other Valiant Comics characters from X-O Manowar, Faith, Divinity, Timewalker, Eternal Warrior and Savage, are expected to make appearances in this upcoming webseries as well. We don’t know who is playing who in that bunch, but the following actors/actresses will be involved: Kevin Porter, Ciera Foster, John Morrison, Derek Theler, Nicola Posener and Chantelle Barry.
Jason David Frank as Bloodshot
The Movie Plans
Harbinger will be the first big-screen live-action Valiant Comics adaptation, which will be penned by Eric Heisserer (Arrival). Slashfilm has hinted that Bloodshot himself will be the villain in that film before he gets his own big-screen feature shortly afterwards. It is not known whether or not Jason David Frank, who plays Bloodshot in the webseries will reprise the role or whether or not the directorial duo from John Wick are still involved, as they were previously rumoured to be.
Fans of the Harbinger comic know that it’s centred around Peter Stanchek, a teen runaway with telekinetic powers, but apparently the film will also feature other Valiant Comics heroes including Faith, Livewire, the H.A.R.D. Corps strike team and Generation Zero.
Sony has apparently mapped out five films, including the two mentioned above with Harbinger and Bloodshot, but culminating in a cross-over event flick called Harbinger Wars (which Valiant Comics fans know and love) and will bring everybody together in one movie – essentially Valiant’s version of Marvel’s Avengers.
Who are These Heroes?
Check out some descriptions of the first four major heroes that Valiant Entertainment seems to be introducing audiences to adaptation-wise first: Ninjak, Bloodshot, Harbinger and Faith (who will have a major role in the Harbinger film). I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a little surprised X-O Manowar isn’t the very first on tap for an adaptation considering he’s probably the publication’s most popular hero? Or was anyway – he’s the one I remember hearing of first when Valiant was kicking around in the early 90’s and the current comic is a work of art.
I’m thinking it’s because the budget for an X-O Manowar flick would be insane. It’s a futuristic epic that feels like Iron Man on a Star Wars budget… Valiant CEO Dinesh Shamdasani did however recently tease the directorS for the upcoming X-O film which is in the early stages of development saying:
“I wish the directors on X-O Manowar would leak so that I can talk about them. Because not only are they mind-blowingly awesome, the things they’re doing with X-O Manowar will make fanboys’ heads explode. It’s really cool stuff but I can’t say anymore than that.”
I’m personally a major fan of Bloodshot, he’s like the Punisher but if the Punisher was also the Terminator and T-1000 combined into an unstoppable killing machine. Jeff Lemire’s current run for Bloodshot: Reborn is my favorite superhero series on comic stands today.
Ninjak
For the first time, Ninjak’s past and future collide in the pages of an all-new ongoing series! Then: Meet inexperienced MI-6 recruit Colin King on his first mission in the field as he learns the basics of spycraft and counterintelligence, and develops a volatile relationship with his first handler. Now: Colin King is Ninjak, the world’s foremost intelligence operative, weapons expert, and master assassin. – from Valiant Entertainment.com
Bloodshot
Bloodshot’s nanites made him a nearly unstoppable killing machine. His enhanced strength, speed, endurance, and healing made him the perfect weapon, and he served his masters at Project Rising Spirit – a private contractor trafficking in violence. – from Valiant Entertainment.com
Harbinger
Super-powered teenager Peter Stanchek is on a dangerous path. Skipping across the country in a desperate attempt to stay one step ahead of the authorities, Peter is quickly realizing that he’s a psionically-charged “harbinger” with the potential to reshape the course of human history. But Peter’s plight has not gone unnoticed. Respected philanthropist and fellow harbinger Toyo Harada is about to offer Peter the chance at the things for which the boy has always longed — family, inner peace, self-control — and induct him into the sprawling, secret network of conspiracy and subversion known as the Harbinger Foundation. Now Peter begins his long road towards a destiny that will shake the very foundations of the Valiant Universe. His first lesson? All power comes with a price. – from Valiant Entertainment.com
Faith
Orphaned at a young age, Faith Herbert – a psionically gifted “psiot” discovered by the Harbinger Foundation – has always aspired to greatness. But now this once-ordinary teenager is taking control of her destiny and becoming the hard-hitting hero she’s always known she can be – complete with a mild-mannered secret identity, unsuspecting colleagues, and a day job as a reporter that routinely throws her into harm’s way! Well, at least she thought it would… When she’s not typing up listicles about cat videos, Faith makes a secret transformation to patrol the night as the City of Angels’ own leading superhero – the sky-soaring Zephyr! – from Valiant Entertainment.com