Joe Madureira's beloved Battle Chasers is making the jump from comic books to TV screens thanks to John Wick creator Derek Kolstad.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the rights to the series, written and illustrated by Madureira, were purchased by Alcon Television Group. Kolstad, the writer behind the John Wick films, Nobody, several episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and the upcoming Hitman show, will write and executive produce a TV series based on the comic. Adrian Askarieh, the producer of the Hitman franchise, will also executive produce.
Released in 1998 on WildStorm imprint Cliffhanger, co-founded by Madureira, Battle Chasers is a steampunk-inflected fantasy story following the characters Garrison, Gully, Calibretto, Knolan, and Red Monika. The series quickly became a fan-favorite, outstripping comics by Marvel and DC in its heyday. In 2001, the comic moved to Image, but it ultimately suffered numerous delays, with Maduereira leaving the comic book industry before issue #10 could be released.
In 2017, the writer and artist launched Battle Chasers: Nightwar via Kickstarter, continuing the tale in the video game world to which he had moved. And earlier this year, Madureira shared pages from Battle Chasers #10, promising it was finally on the way.
"I connected deeply to this material 20 years ago when I first picked up Joe’s comic book, and so to be part of bringing this exciting material to a new audience is thrilling, to say the least," producer Ben Roberts said.
"As a storyteller — as well as a super fan of unapologetic and unrelenting action — I can’t wait for people to feel as giddy as I did when I first laid eyes on Battle Chasers," Kolstad said. "The world which Joe has created here, coupled with the characters therein, is both unique and yet familiar."
With the TV deal in the works, this could be what finally brings the 10th chapter of the story to fans. In 2003, 20th Century Fox had plans to turn the series into a film, but television will likely be a far better medium for the story. And with Kolstad's pedigree in both action and his work on comic and video game adaptations, Battle Chasers may finally get the wider appeal it's been tiptoeing around for over two decades.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter