David Hayter

Showtime Developing Series Adaptation of Comic Book THE DAMNED

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: August 24th, 2011 at 2:31 pm

The new TV projects just keep rolling in as networks are already starting work on development for next year’s programming season. Today, it’s Showtime coming up to the plate with another new series in development. Deadline reports the cable network is in the midst of adapting The Damned, the comic book written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Brian Hurtt. X-Men, X2: X-Men United and Watchmen screenwriter David Hayter is attached to script the adaptation which will be a modern take on the story which follows a cursed man who is stuck in the middle of a turf war in modern-day Chicago where mobsters are demons. Eddie must play all the angles to keep the warring families at bay while trying to reclaim his soul.

Thank the maker this ended up at Showtime, because it sounds like a show that Fox would cancel after three episodes. I love the mix of organized crime and the supernatural, but the tone and execution would have to be just right in order for it to be a truly dramatic series. Of course, there’s no telling if the project will actually get off the ground, but it’s good to hear Showtime is at least making moves to bring this comic book to life. For a little more on the project, hit the jump to check out a synopsis from the series’ first trade paperback, Three Days Dead.

David Hayter to Adapt DRAGONRIDERS OF PERN Series

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 12th, 2011 at 5:04 pm

Screenwriter David Hayter (X2, Watchmen) has been tapped to write the screenplay for the adaptation of Anne McCaffrey’s sci-fi/fantasy series The Dragonriders of Pern. Hayter will adapt Dragonflight, which is the first in a series of novels that began in 1968 and continue to this day. Dragonflight centers on “an elite group of warriors who take to the skies on the backs of giant, fire-breathing, telepathic dragons to save the wondrously exotic planet of Pern from a terrifying airborne menace.” McCaffrey had this to say:

“The fans and I have been waiting, not so patiently, for a long time to see Pern and her characters on the big screen. I couldn’t be more thrilled that a writer with David’s tremendous creativity and track record of translating beloved source material into fantastic movies has decided to make this his next epic adventure.”

Don Murphy has come aboard to executive produce the project, which will be an international co-production financed by several distribution partners around the world. No director is currently attached, but production is set to begin in 2012. Hit the jump to read a synopsis of the book and the full press release.

Summit Entertainment is Developing a TV Version of PUSH With David Hayter Writing and Executive Producing the Pilot

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 19th, 2010 at 9:04 am

Summit Entertainment and E1 Entertainment have just announced screenwriter David Hayter is going to write and executive produce a pilot script for a TV version of the movie Push.  Hayter is best known for writing or co-writing Watchmen, The Scorpion King, X2 and X-Men.

For those who never saw Push…it’s essentially another version of NBC’s Heroes.  The movie was directed by Paul McGuigan and starred Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle and Djimon Hounsou and it made $50 million worldwide.

“The concept behind the Push feature film offers a broad and rich canvas on which to extend the storyline and characters introduced in the feature film,” said Summit Co-Chairmen Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger.  “The project is also the perfect vehicle to initiate Summit’s plans of producing programming for the global television marketplace.  The opportunity to do this with our trusted partners at E1 re-enforces that this is the right opportunity to grow Summit’s platform.”

More after the jump:

WATCHMEN Screenwriter David Hayter Heads to DEADWORLD

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 10th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

“X-Men” and “Watchmen” screenwriter David Hayter is going where all lords of geeks must eventually go: to zombies.  Yes, the geek staple of zombies is now going to get the Hayter treatment as he’s adapting the comic book “Deadworld” for his Dark Hero Studios.

According to Variety, “Deadworld” veers from the popular zombie mythology of depicting an apocalypse in which humans are overrun by flesh-eating corpses. “Deadworld” picks up four months after that event, where the Dead overtake the Earth, with humans few and far between. The protagonist is King Zombie, a Harley-riding corpse who holds a grudge against the survivors who made him an outcast.

Really?  Because right up until the end there, that’s popular zombie mythology.  That’s “Day of the Dead”, “Land of the Dead”, and “28 Days Later” just off the top of my head.  I think the “unique” aspect they’re trying to convey is that it takes place from the perspective of the zombies.  There’s no word yet on what kind of zombies we’re talking here: fast-moving zombies, braindead zombies, or just the walking undead who are perfectly nice folks except they’re decomposing and want to eat people.

Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design