The director of “Ready Player One” is moving forward with his project to bring an adaptation of classic comic book character “Blackhawk” to film.
Following the success of “Ready Player One,” Steven Spielberg is staying with Warner Bros for “Blackhawk,” based on the comic book series of the same title illustrated by legendary artist Will Eisner.
The director behind “Jaws” will produce the film through his company Amblin Entertainment, rather than DC Comics owner Warner Bros and, according to The Hollywood Reporter, he is also likely to fill the director’s chair, pending confirmation.
The script is being written by David Koepp, a repeat Spielberg collaborator who is credited with screenplays for “Jurassic Park” and its sequel, “War of the Worlds,” plus “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and its upcoming fifth part.
Blackhawk was published first by Quality Comics, beginning in 1941, and then DC Comics from 1957 to 1984.
The Blackhawks were a team of ace pilots formed during the Second World War and led by the eponymous, enigmatic Blackhawk himself.
They fought everyone from Nazis to mutant men and were pursued by numerous femme fatales.
The series was especially popular at the beginning of its run, when it was considered second only to “Superman” in terms of comic book sales.
Before “Blackhawk,” Spielberg has the “Indiana Jones 5” and “West Side Story” on his slate.
He is also involved in 19th century Papal drama “The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara,” starring Mark Rylance (Spielberg’s “The BFG” and “Bridge of Spies”) and written by Tony Kushner of Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” “Lincoln” and “Munich.”
“Blackhawk” was previously adapted as four-hour 1952 movie serial “Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom.”