The team that made the Lethal Weapon movies is getting back together for a new, exciting action thriller. The writer and director, known for films like The Nice Guys and Iron Man 3, and previously responsible for the adventures of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, is partnering with a producer to create an action hero for Sony Pictures that they say will be even more formidable than Jack Reacher.
For decades, filmmakers have tried to adapt the story of the action hero Mack Bolan for the big screen, going all the way back to the 1980s. Now, Shane Black is set to write and direct a new movie based on Don Pendleton’s “The Executioner” book series, with the goal of starting a fresh action franchise. Sony Pictures has greenlit the project, calling it a high-energy, action-packed venture, and this will finally be Mack Bolan’s first appearance on film.
Innovation Publishing
I’m so excited to hear that Greg Black is writing the script! He’s working with Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry, who he’s teamed up with before, and it sounds like they’re really making this happen. Silver Pictures is producing, along with Don Murphy and Susan Montford from Angry Films – they’re the ones who finally sorted out all the complicated rights issues that have been holding up The Executioner adaptation for ages. It’s great to see it finally moving forward!
Starting with the 1969 novel War Against the Mafia, The Executioner series is considered the ultimate example of pulp action. It centers on Mack Bolan, an ex-soldier who seeks revenge on the Mafia after they kill his family. Bolan, known as The Executioner, has significantly impacted the creation of action heroes, most notably The Punisher. He embodies the harsh tactics of The Punisher, the wandering nature of Jack Reacher, and a strong commitment to justice – a combination that has the potential to make him a truly iconic action star on film, with echoes of The Equalizer.
Netflix
The popular action series began with books by Dan Pendleton, who died in 1995, but the rights were later sold, resulting in a huge collection of 464 novels and over 200 million copies sold. This extensive library provides plenty of material for Black and Silver as they start a new movie franchise. Throughout the series, the main character faces diverse enemies, from criminals and terrorists to white supremacists and corrupt officials – it’s no surprise Hollywood has long tried to adapt The Executioner for the big screen. Several attempts have been made over the years, including efforts with Sylvester Stallone in the 80s by William Friedkin (director of The French Connection), and with Joel Silver in the 90s. More recently, Bradley Cooper was considered for the lead role.
We’re eagerly awaiting news on who Shane Black and Joel Silver will cast as Mack Bolan in The Executioner movie – hopefully not Mark Wahlberg – but for now, it’s exciting enough that this Lethal Weapon duo is reuniting to create a new action thriller that could compete with Alan Ritchson’s popular action hero.
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2026-03-25 14:48