2000 AD fans rejoice
The much lauded award-winning British comic book that brought us Judge Dredd will soon see one of its greatest characters come to the big screen.
Acclaimed filmmaker Duncan Jones, the man behind movies such as Moon, Source Code, Warcraft and Mute, is to bring genetic infantryman Rogue Trooper to life is an as-yet-unnamed picture.
Confirming the news via his Twitter account, Jones will write and direct the new joint venture between Liberty Films and Rebellion, the Oxford-based games publishers and owners of 2000 AD.
“For years now, I have felt a sting as Marvel and DC have poured out their entire comic roster into film. Wonderful for their fans, but every new release I silently scream ‘Where’s all the 2000 AD?!’  I’m so excited to finally be able to right that wrong and bring Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons’ Rogue Trooper, a seminal British spun war yarn, to the big screen!” said Jones.
Jason Kingsley, CEO and Creative Director of Rebellion, said: “Rogue Trooper has always been one of my favourite old school thrills from 2000 AD. I’m very happy to be working closely with Duncan and Stuart on this project and look forward to seeing the results on the silver screen.”
For those of you unfamiliar with Rogue Trooper, the story follows blue-skinned genetic infantryman Rogue Trooper bred to fight on Nu-Earth, a hellish planet consumed by an endless war between the Norts and the Southers. On a quest to sought out the traitor responsible for the Quartz Zone Massacre, where the lives of his fellow GIs were claimed leaving him the sole survivor, he is helped by the personalities of three dead comrades plugged into his helmet, backpack, and rifle.
Easily one of, if not the greatest characters to be born from the incredible 2000 AD universe, which also played host to the likes of Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, ABC Warriors, Bad Company and Slaine, Rogue Trooper was created by Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons and made his first appearance in the comic book on September 5th 1981 in Prog 228.
The last time we heard about a potential Rogue Trooper movie was back in 2011 when it was said that writer Grant Morrison would be adapting Rogue Trooper for actor Sam Worthington’s Full Clip Productions.
The new deal was negotiated by producer Stuart Fenegan and Rebellion’s Jason Kingsley. Fenegan will produce the film under his and Jones’ Liberty Films banner, Jason Kingsley and Chris Kingsley will Executive Produce.
A release date is yet to be confirmed.
