Whether it’s through adapting an existing animated property (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid) or through an entirely original concept, Disney is constantly looking for ways to add to its ever expanding library of live-action female protagonists. They continued that trend this week by acquiring the movie rights to artist/writer Tony Cliff’s best selling graphic novel, Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant.
Delilah, billed as the “International Mistress of Swordsmanship”, made her first appearance in 2008 on the pages of Flight comics in the story Delilah Dirk and the Aqueduct. Since then she’s appeared in a short story - Delilah Dirk and the Seeds of Good Fortune - and the recently released Delilah Dirk and the King’s Shilling, a follow up to newly optioned Turkish Lieutenant.
For those unfamiliar with the tales about the world traveler and adventurer known as Delilah Dirk, here’s a description about the Turkish Lieutenant graphic novel:
While still fairly new to the market, Delilah Dirk - Tony Cliff’s zany explorer with fantastically sassy hair - still managed to make the New York Times Best Sellers list, was voted the Best Teen Book by Kirkus Reviews and named Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book, all in 2013 - quite an accomplishment by anyone’s standards. With that type of pedigree, it’s not surprising Disney would want to make a feature-length live-action movie about the character.
Lovable ne’er-do-well Delilah Dirk is an Indiana Jones for the 19th century. She has traveled to Japan, Indonesia, France, and even the New World. Using the skills she’s picked up on the way, Delilah’s adventures continue as she plots to rob a rich and corrupt Sultan in Constantinople. With the aid of her flying boat and her newfound friend, Selim, she evades the Sultan’s guards, leaves angry pirates in the dust, and fights her way through the countryside. For Delilah, one adventure leads to the next in this thrilling and funny installment in her exciting life.
There are currently no other names attached to the project besides those of producers Roy Lee, Mark Mower and Justin Giritlian but it shouldn’t be long before writers are selected and a list of actresses become associated with the lead role. Right now, Hollywood is filled with plenty of talented young, ethnically-diverse actresses that could easily play the part of Delilah.
Daisy Ridley could potentially be a good fit, but her plate is currently full with the Star Wars franchise. Alexandera Shipp (Storm from X-Men: Apocalypse) would be another solid choice - assuming she isn’t too wrapped up in X-Men sequels the next few years. Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl) might even had been someone to consider had she not been recently cast as Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider reboot.
There’s no release date for Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant but we’ll update you with more information as it becomes available.
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Would you go see a live-action adaptation of Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant? If so, who could you see playing the lead role? Let us know in the comments section.
Source: Deadline
