By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The sword-and-sorcery update is currently shooting in Canada.
Below is the first pic of Daniel Bernhardt (JOHN WICK, NOBODY, the BLOODSPORT sequels) in the title role of DEATHSTALKER, a reboot of the action/fantasy franchise produced by Roger Corman in the ’80s. The film, which we first told you about with an exclusive effects photo here, was scripted and is being directed by Steven Kostanski of PG: PSYCHO GOREMAN, THE VOID et al. Among the many executive producers are Slash (pictured above) of Guns N’ Roses and Rodrigo Gudiño via their BerserkerGang label. In this film, according to the official synopsis, the titular barbarian “finds himself cursed by a magical talisman that draws him into conflict with a malevolent wizard and a clan of monstrous assassins.”
The movie will be jam-packed with monsters and fantastical beings courtesy of Kostanski’s recently established Action Pants effects shop, which recently completed work on Kostanski’s horror/comedy FRANKIE FREAKO. The creatures will be brought to life via suits, prosthetics and stop-motion animation. Raven Banner has launched worldwide sales at the Cannes Film Festival; in the meantime, the first issue of a new DEATHSTALKER comic-book series from Vault Comics has just sold out in less than a week. Written by Tim Seeley and illustrated by Jim Terry, the series tells a story that bridges the narratives of the previous movies and Kostanski’s film.
