The comic book RED written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Cully Hamner is getting a big screen treatment courtesy of Summit Entertainment. SlashFilm reported details today taken directly from a Summit press release. The film stars Bruce Willis and is currently shooting in Toronto. More info below.
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PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY UNDERWAY ON SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT’S “RED”
January 12, 2010 — Toronto, Canada – Principal photography has begun in Toronto on Summit Entertainment’s spy-thriller “Red,” based on the DC Comics graphic novel of the same name by Warren Ellis.
Joining previously announced stars Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker and Academy Award®-winners Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman, are two-time Academy Award®-nominee John Malkovich, Karl Urban, Brian Cox, Academy Award®-winners Richard Dreyfuss and Ernest Borgnine, Julian McMahon, James Remar and Rebecca Pidgeon.
“Red” is the story of Frank Moses (Willis), a former black-ops CIA agent, who is now living a quiet life. That is, until the day a hi-tech assassin shows up intent on killing him. With his identity compromised and the life of the woman he cares for, Sarah (Parker), endangered, Frank reassembles his old team (Freeman, Malkovich and Mirren) in a last ditch effort to survive.
Directed by Robert Schwentke (“The Time Traveler’s Wife,” “Flightplan”) from a screenplay by Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber (“Whiteout”), the film is produced by di Bonaventura Pictures’ Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian (“Salt,” “Transformers,” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”). Executive producers are Jake Myers (“Shanghai,” “Hollywoodland”) and Gregory Noveck (“Jonah Hex”). Di Bonaventura Pictures’ production executive David Ready serves as co-producer.
“Red” reunites director Schwentke with director of photography Florian Ballhaus (“Marley & Me,” “The Devil Wears Prada”) and Oscar-winning film editor Thom Noble (“Witness,” “Thelma & Louise”) who collaborated with Schwentke on “The Time Traveler’s Wife” and “Flightplan.” Additionally, “Red” production designer Alec Hammond (“Donnie Darko”) and costume designer Susan Lyall (“Rachel Getting Married”) lent their talents to Schwentke’s “Flightplan” as well.
“I’m so excited at the phenomenal cast that Robert and our script have attracted,” said di Boneventura. “I think audiences are going to have a great time.”
Summit’s President of Production Erik Feig said, “RED is that classic project with a little bit of something for everyone. We are thrilled to see it come to vivid life with an outstanding cast, incredibly talented director, and top notch producing team. It’s gonna be a good one!”
“Red” will film in and around the Toronto metropolitan area for nine weeks before moving on to the road and ending in New Orleans in late March for the final two weeks of principal photography. The film is scheduled for worldwide release on October 22, 2010.
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I really liked what Robert Schwentke did with the German film TATTOO, and the idea of him helming this comic adaptation really excites me. Oddly enough, when watching TATTOO, I remember thinking that one of the main characters reminded me a lot of Bruce Willis, and even started imagining that film being remade in American with Bruce in that role. I guess Schwentke was destined to work with Willis. I also hope this means good things for Cully Hamner, as he was the man who brought Warren Ellis’ story to life.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
Hmm, an action oriented film based on a best selling Graphic Novel series staring Brice Willis is set to be relased in October, now why does that sound so familiar?
I really do hope RED has a much better conversion to the Big Screen then SURROGATES b/c I love the comic book based movie genere and am a Bruce Willis fan.