Tom Cruise and Sam Raimi are setting up an adaptation of DC/Wildstorm’s Sleeper at Warner Bros.
Cruise is “loosely attached” to star; Raimi will produce.
Sleeper, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, ran for two 12-issue “seasons” from 2003 to 2005. It centers on Holden Carver, a covert operative who fused with an alien artifact, making him impervious to pain and allowing him to pass it on to others through skin contact. Carver is placed undercover in a criminal organization, but loses his link to the outside world when his handler falls into a coma.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. is eyeing Sleeper as a potential franchise. However, considering the current legal wrangling over Watchmen, and Sleeper‘s connections to WildC.A.T.s and Gen13 — Hollywood deals involving both titles were set up before DC bought Wildstorm in 1999 — the studio “appears determined to cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s in its contracts.”
Update: MTV’s Splash Page talks with Brubaker about the announcement, and the potential legal entanglements:
One of the biggest concerns mentioned throughout today’s blog posts — in light of the recent “Watchmen” legal debacle — are the legal issues. Namely, in the “Sleeper” comics, characters from DC Comics’ Wildstorm universe show up, which could cause potential headaches. However, Brubaker assured fans that those problems have already been addressed and — despite Warner Bros. most likely triple-checking for any potential legal problems — shouldn’t delay production too long. “They’ll have to just figure it out and cut around some of the characters who appeard in other Wildstorm books, but this type of thing happens in Hollywood all the time.”
August 19th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Congratulations to Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips! Though the ties to the Wildstorm Universe as a whole could probably be worked out without too much difficulty. It’s not like Tao has to be a guy named Tao or that Lynch has to be Lynch. The wider audience won’t need those connections.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I could see Cruise starring in this and doing a good job actually. Xenu be damned!
August 19th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Happy dance! While I am not sure about Tom in the role, I am happy to see more Sleeper
August 19th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I hope this makes them put out some massive one-volume collection of the whole story. Or at least two volumes.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Wow. This is cool, albeit totally unexpected. While I’m not sure about Cruise, I do love Raimi and I hope that they get all the necessary legal hurdles worked out to make this film. Anything that encourages more people to pick up the trades of this wonderful series is a good thing.
August 19th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Cruise could be great as Tao.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Like others have said, dont know how I feel about Tom Cruise staring but in any case, its great news for this underrated series, available in 4 nice TPB plus Point Blank TPB who is sort of a prequel.
I you love Criminal by the same creative team, you will fall in love with this great and awesome series; dark espionnage with a light superhero touch, great stuff ! Go get it.