It’s been quite a wild few years for comic creator Rob Liefeld, as he saw his brainchild Deadpool rocket to the big screen in his first solo movie earlier this summer and plans are already underway for a sequel. Though Liefeld is perhaps best known for creating Deadpool, the writer has a ton of other characters up his sleeve, and just as many adaptation ideas for each of them. The creator revealed earlier this year that he had penned a full Youngblood script, and now, it looks like another one of his characters, namely Avengelyne, is headed to the big screen for her own solo debut.
An Avengelyne film is reportedly now in the works. The comics of the same name follow titular protagonist Avengelyne, a fallen angel banished from heaven by God who uses her remaining angelic powers (superstrength and magical blood) to defend earth from demons. Though Liefeld had plans to develop a movie version of the character with actor Gina Carano back in 2013, those plans fell through and the actor has since starred as Angel Dust in Deadpool. We don’t know much about these new Avengelyne plans, but Paramount has already acquired preemptive film rights and signed on a producer (and potential director).
According to a report from Deadline, Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman will produce and potentially direct the Avengelyne solo movie. The film has been described as a “thriller” and “John Wick with a fallen angel.” The studio, which paid upwards of six figures for the rights, will soon begin their search for a screenwriter and lead actress.
During his pitch to create Avengelyne back in 2013, Liefeld said that the film would draw inspiration from Kate Beckinsale’s Underworld franchise. He explained why fans want an Avengelyne solo film by saying:
So it looks like, if this incarnation of the film will resemble the 2013 plans at all, we’re going to see a script that is at least slightly self-referential, and winks at the hero’s absurd circumstances. Fans of superhero films like Thor and especially Deadpool will undoubtedly be familiar with this satirical bend.
Avengelyne resonated so powerfully with the audience because her story of redemption is one that is so relatable. A fallen angel, sentenced to redeem herself by serving humanity, Earth is a foreign environment to her, she must adapt in order to save herself as well as mankind. Her dilemma provides humor amidst the larger plot engine driving her journey.
It’s unclear whether or not Avengelyne will be able to stake her place in the current superhero genre, however. Next year’s Wonder Woman will help to pave the way for more high-quality female superhero solo films in the future, but it remains to be seen if Avengelyne’s story will achieve a certain level of narrative integrity - or whether it will just end up in the rubbish bin with Catwoman and Elektra. Certain fans may also take issue with Avengelyne’s chronic misunderstanding of the mortal concept of clothes.
I met up with Akiva Goldsman & he sold me with this one sentence. “I want this to be “female John Wick”. I stood up, shook his hand, “DEAL”— robertliefeld (@robertliefeld) November 3, 2016
All in all, we’re excited about this news – but not without reservations. Since we’ve yet to see a well-done solo female superhero film, Avengelyne could either break new ground or be yet another addition to a legacy of disappointments.
Avengelyne is in early pre-production, and a release date has not yet been set.
Source: Deadline
