After nearly a decade in development at Universal Pictures,Shane Black’sCold Warriorhas found a new home at Netflix, Collider has exclusively learned. While Netflix quietly acquired the project late last year, the news was never reported. It now comes less than two weeks beforeThe Predatorhits theaters, following its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Originally written byChuck Mondry, the script follows a retired Cold War-era spy who teams with a younger agent to track down a terrorist. It’s unclear whether Black has taken a crack at the screenplay in the intervening years, but it seems reasonable to assume he did a pass on the script, given his affinity for this kind of material. It also remains to be seen whetherCold Warriorwill be Black’s next film, as it’s simply a development title at Netflix – though the streaming service tends to move faster than most studios. In any case, the idea of Netflix rescuing a Shane Black movie from development hell and giving him creative freedom to make the movie can only be considered a good thing.
Michelle ManningandAnthony Bagarozziare producingCold Warriorwith Black’s manager,David Greenblatt. Manning recently served as an executive producer on Netflix’s Motley Crue biopicThe Dirt, so she has a prior relationship with the streaming service. Bagarozzi, who previously teamed with Mondry to co-write the action-thriller specTick-Tock, which sold to Sony for $1 million dollars back in 2000.
Black most recently directedThe Predator, which is set to invade theaters on Sept. 14. The movie boasts an impressive ensemble includingBoyd Holbrook,Sterling K. Brown,Olivia Munn,Trevante Rhodes,Keegan-Michael Key,Thomas Jane,Alfie Allen,Jake Busey,Yvonne StrahovskiandJacob Tremblay.
Black previously directedThe Nice Guys,Kiss Kiss Bang Bangand Marvel’sIron Man 3, which grossed $1.2 billion. However, to action junkies, he’s best known for writing the first threeLethal Weaponmovies. Black’s other writing credits include the ’90s action moviesThe Last Boy ScoutandThe Long Kiss Goodnight.The Predatorrepresents a homecoming of sorts for Black, who played Hawkins in the original 1987 action classic. He’s represented by WME and attorney Alan Hergott.
