Last year, Chris Pratt’s performance in Guardians of the Galaxy elevated him to leading man status and John Wick displayed the incredible potential of the first time directing duo, David Leitch and Chad Stahelski.
Now it appears that execs at Universal Studios are in early talks to have the duo direct Pratt in their live action adaptation of the Image Comics’ property, Cowboy Ninja Viking. Variety reported that Pratt gave Leitch and Stahelski his “stamp of approval” after meeting with them to discuss the project.
Even though Pratt has expressed his eagerness about his potential involvement through various Tweets, he had been reserving his total commitment to the production until the right director(s) were found to take the helm. Now that Pratt has given his endorsement, Universal are rumored to have made an initial offer for Leitch and Stahelski’s services.
While Pratt is obviously an actor who is now in high demand, Universal needs to lock these directors into a deal before another studio steals them away for a different project.
It’s also important to get rolling before Pratt’s schedule prohibits his involvement, since he is set to star in Antoine Fuqua’s remake of The Magnificent Seven, is also being eyed to star in Disney’s reboot of the Indiana Jones series, and will no doubt be appearing in the sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy.
So unless Universal wants 2020 not only to be the year this movie is released, but also the accuracy of their hindsight – they better shake a tail feather and get this project moving forward post haste.