HBO announced on Monday (November 10) that it is developing a new live-action series based on the classic comic book series "V for Vendetta". James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-heads of DC Films, will serve as executive producers, and Pete Jackson, the British screenwriter of "Somewhere Boy", will write the script.
According to an exclusive report by Variety, Warner Bros. Television UK will collaborate with Ben Stephenson, a representative from Poison Pen, and Leanne Klein, head of the UK production company Wall to Wall Media, to produce the series.
It is understood that *V for Vendetta* was originally a serialized work written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd. The story is set in a near-future Britain under totalitarian rule, where a mysterious masked rebel named "V" attempts to overthrow the dictatorial regime of the "Northern Fire Party" and joins forces with a young woman named "Evey Hammond" to carry out revolutionary actions.
Warner Bros. released a film version of "V for Vendetta" in 2005, with Nigerian actor Hugo Weaving playing "V" and Natalie Portman playing "Ivy". The film was directed by James McTeigue and written by the Wachowski sisters, and grossed over $1.3 million worldwide.
If the "V for Vendetta" series proceeds smoothly, it will become HBO's third original DC Comics adaptation, following "Watchmen" and "Lanterns" which will premiere next year. "The Penguin," starring Hollywood actor Colin Farrell, also performed well on HBO last year, winning nine Emmy Awards.
It's worth noting that Channel 4 in the UK attempted to adapt "V for Vendetta" into a series years ago, but the project ultimately failed. The report also points out that "Pennyworth," co-produced by HBO Max and Epix (the predecessor to MGM Studios), was originally planned as a prequel to the "V for Vendetta" universe, but was cancelled after three seasons.
