Cowboy Ninja Viking | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | Image Comics |
Format | Limited series |
Genre | Action comedy |
Publication date | October 21, 2009 – November 10, 2010 |
No. of issues | 10 |
Creative team | |
Created by | A. J. Lieberman Riley Rossmo |
Written by | A. J. Lieberman |
Artist(s) | Riley Rossmo |
Letterer(s) | Clayton Cowles |
Colorist(s) | Riley Rossmo |
Editor(s) | Kristen Simon |
Collected editions | |
Volume 1 | ISBN 1-60706-261-5 |
Volume 2 | ISBN 1-60706-344-1 |
Cowboy Ninja Viking is an Image Comics comic book created by writer A.J. Lieberman and artist Riley Rossmo. The series debuted in 2009, released through Image Comics' partner studio Shadowline.
The first appearance of the comic characters is in a 6-page preview in Bomb Queen Vol 6 issue 1 published in September and the 1st issue of the main title coming out in October.
Writer A.J. Lieberman describes the creation of the series: [1]
Initially Riley wanted to do something with a Dystopian near-future setting. And while I first started circling the character I tried shoe horning him into these very "cool" locales. […] Anyway, none felt right. Just forced. They took themselves too seriously which wasn't what I really wanted to do coming off of my Batman stuff. So I stepped back and realized the character was the concept – I literally said that out loud to myself. Once I had that – I relaxed and the humorous side of the concept started to come out.
The series revolves around a counter-intelligence unit of dissociative identity disorder patients, formed by psychotherapist Dr. Sebastian Ghislain, who are transformed into agents known as Triplets (referring to the three different personalities inside their minds). It is hinted that this is possible through experimental psychiatric conditioning and treatment, psychotropic drugs, and past life regression therapy. After the unit falls apart, its various members are turned into hired killers. Duncan, a Triplet who channels the skills of a Cowboy, Ninja, and Viking, is sent to find and stop the rogue Triplets. [2]
The series has been collected into trade paperbacks:
In 2010, it was announced that Disney had purchased the rights to make a film adaptation of the comic book. Zombieland screenwriters Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese were slated to pen the film's script. [3] Disney dropped the film in turnaround and Universal acquired the rights in 2012, with World War Z director Marc Forster attached to direct, [4] and Craig Mazin attached to write the script. [5] On November 20, 2014, Chris Pratt was cast as the lead. [6] On January 29, 2015, John Wick directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski were in early talks to replace Forster, who left the project. [7] In August 2017, Deadline announced that no director was attached yet. [8] On January 31, 2018, Michelle MacLaren was confirmed as director for the film. [9] On May 19, 2018, Dan Mazeau and Ryan Engle were brought on board to rewrite the script. [10] In June 2018, Pratt confirmed MacLaren and members of the production team were in Berlin testing actors, with filming to commence in July. [11] On July 30, 2018, Priyanka Chopra was cast in the lead female role opposite Pratt. [12] The film was set to release on June 28, 2019, [13] but was pulled from its release schedule in August 2018. [14] As of August 2018, it is considered in active development, the delay accommodating production scheduling and script concerns. [15]
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