Move Over Jared Leto, Vin Diesel Is Now ‘Bloodshot’

Say what you will about the Disney/Fox merger, but Sony is quietly building up an arsenal of franchises. Of course, they’ve already got “Spider-Man” off the ground with a little help from Marvel, and have a number of spinoffs cooking including this year’s “Venom.” Meanwhile, “Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle” has become a massive success, and it’s only a matter of time until a sequel is announced. Now, they’re eager to get another comic book property going.

Vin Diesel is in talks to star in “Bloodshot,” an adaptation of the Valiant Comics series. Last summer, Jared Leto was eyeballed for the role, but I guess that didn’t work out, and Diesel certainly marks an interesting gear shift. The two actors couldn’t be more different. At any rate, perhaps the most/only intriguing thing about this project is the fact that Eric Heisserer of “Arrival” fame is writing the script. The story will involve  a soldier with regenerative and morphing powers, who gets his memory wiped, and seeks revenge on those who made him this way, while battling the mob and police. Something tells me this will be a little less nuanced with Diesel leading the charge.

Visual effects veteran Dave Wilson, who comes from the same background as “Deadpool” helmer Tim Miller, will make his debut on “Bloodshot,” which will apparently go R-rated. No release date yet, but a 2019 launch is apparently the goal, as is, you guessed it, a Valiant Comics universe. [The Wrap]