Ryan Coogler’s vampire project will star Michael B Jordan and be backed by Warner Bros, representing yet another coup for the studio.
When Ryan Coogler let a plethora of Hollywood studios know that his latest project was up for grabs, interest was said to be high (as you might well imagine). The involvement of Michael B Jordan only made the project more exciting as together, the duo can lay claim to a very impressive track record indeed, having collaborated on the acclaimed drama Fruitvale Station and having successfully launched two huge franchises in the form of the Creed and Black Panther series.
Although several studios were said to be bidding to acquire their latest collaboration, Warner Bros have come out on top. After several weeks of negotiating (with Sony and Universal also reportedly being in the frame), the film will be backed by Warner Bros, and additionally, Dark Horizons is reporting that ‘an ownership component regarding the film will see Coogler regain certain rights.’
Coogler’s project is said to be a period vampire film, with rumours suggesting that it could be shooting in New Orleans. Any fans of 1994’s Interview With The Vampire (you can catch our recent podcast episode on that mighty film right here) will be acutely aware of the rich storytelling potential that exists for vampire characters in such a setting. Putting that potential into the hands of both Coogler and Jordan only makes the project more exciting.
As for Warner Bros, this represents another coup as it seeks to entice big-name filmmakers back into the fold following a difficult few years where the ‘filmmaker-friendly’ reputation that the studio cultivated over decades was damaged by a series of decisions that were less than considerate towards those who make movies for the company. In recent weeks, we’ve heard that Paul Thomas Anderson, Tom Cruise and Jon M Chu have all signed up with the studio as it seeks to restore its reputation after having spent a few years upsetting seemingly esteemed filmmaker in Hollywood, from Martin Scorsese to Christopher Nolan.
As for Coogler, his film is said to be shooting as soon as April, but everything else is being kept under wraps, including the time period it’ll be set in. As soon as we do hear more though, you can be sure we’ll let you know.
Podcast: Interview With The Vampire (1994) and Tina: What’s Love Got To Do With It? (1993)
