First announced back in 2014, 20th Century Fox‘s Malignant Man movie has found a director. The Hollywood Reporter now brings word that Brad Peyton (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, San Andreas) will helm the feature film based on the Boom! Studios comic book created by filmmaker James Wan (The Conjuring 2, Furious 7) and writer Michael Alan Nelson. Wan is also attached to produce the Malignant Man movie.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!” reads the official description of the Malignant Man comic book series. “Alan Gates, a cancer patient with a terminal diagnosis, is resigned to his fate… until he discovers that his tumor is actually a mysterious parasite! Granted a second lease on life and incredible, otherworldly powers, Alan must fight against an evil army buried beneath society’s skin, all the while unlocking the secrets of his forgotten past.”
The Malignant Man comic book, illustrated by Piotr Kowalski and featuring covers by Trevor Hairsine, ran for four issues, published in 2011. It has since been collected into a single trade paperback edition.
Relative newcomer Zak Olkewicz is providing the Malignant Man movie script. In addition to Wan, producers on the project include Boom!’s Stephen Christy, Ross Richie and Adam Yoelin as well as Peyton himself, producing through Factory Backwards alongside Jeff Pierson.
Wan’s The Conjuring 2 is currently the number one film at the domestic box office having opened last Friday to $40.4 million. He’s no stranger to comic books, either, as he’s currently attached to helm Warner Bros. Pictures‘ DC Comics adaptation, Aquaman. Set to star Jason Momoa as the Atlantean King and Amber Heard as Mera, Aquaman will hit theaters July 27, 2018.
