Sean Marshall Millennium Media announced today that they have started the principal photography comic book adaptation, Red Sonja.
The film is set to star Matilda Lutz (Revenge, Rings, Medici) as Red Sonja, Wallis Day (Sex/Life, Batwoman) as Annisia, and Robert Sheehan (The Umbrella Academy, Misfits) as Draygan, Michael Bisping (xXx: Return of Xander Cage) as Hawk, Martyn Ford as General Karlak (F9: The Fast Saga, Final Score), Eliza Matengu (Thor: Love and Thunder) as Amarak, Manal El Feitury (Code Red) as Ayala, and Katrina Durden (Doctor Strange, Shadow and Bone) as Saevus.
M.J. Bassett (Solomon Kane) will helm the project with the script written by Joey Soloway (Transparent) and Tasha Huo (Netflix’s Tomb Raider). Mark Canton (300, Power), Courtney Solomon (Cake, After), Luke Lieberman on behalf of Red Sonja LLC, Millennium Media’s Les Weldon, Jeffrey Greenstein, Jonathan Yunger, and Yariv Lerner, and Joe Gatta (Out of the Furnace, Conan the Barbarian) will produce the film. Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, and Boaz Davidson from Millennium Media are Executive Producers alongside Dorothy Canton, Millennium Media’s Tanner Mobley, Nick Barrucci on behalf of Dynamite Entertainment, Lati Grobman and Christa Campbell on behalf of Campbell Grobman Films, Eclectic Picture’s Heidi Jo Markel, and Joey Soloway on behalf of Topple.
Basset had this to say about directing Red Sonja: “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. 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.”
Millennium Media’s President, Jeffrey Greenstein, said the following: “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.
Producer Mark Canton added: “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.
The start of production will be at the Bulgarian Nu Boyana Studio, with additional shoots at the Greek Nu Boyana Studio.
Red Sonja is a sword and sorcery comic-book superheroine created by writer Roy Thomas & artist Barry Windsor-Smith for Marvel Comics. Red Sonja was also brought to the big screen in 1985 & was portrayed by Brigitte Nielsen.
