‘Bloodshot’ Movie Replaces Michael Sheen With Guy Pearce
Guy Pearceis no stranger to playing shady scientists conducting mysterious experiments on soldiers in comic book movies. After all, he played that part to sleazy perfection inIron Man 3. So it’s no wonder that he’s been cast in a similar role in Sony’s upcoming comic book adaptationBloodshot, replacing original actorMichael Sheen.
Production began onBloodshotyesterday, but new names are joining the cast.Varietyreports that Michael Sheen has departed the superhero movie due to scheduling conflicts, but Pearce was able to slide into the role immediately. It’s easy to see why Pearce and Sheen could play the same role – both are handsome and charming actors with the capacity to play threatening, menacing, and grotesque if necessary.
In addition toIron Man 3, film fans will undoubtedly know Pearce from his work inMemento,L.A. Confidential, andThe Proposition. In recent years, he’s seemingly abandoned most leading man parts and has become a reliable character actor, morphing into a number of strange and varied roles. His presence can only improveBloodshot.
Bloodshotis based on the Valiant comic book character of the same name.Vin Dieselstars as the title character, a mortally wounded soldier who is revived using experimental technology that transforms him into a pale-skinned, seemingly indestructible weapon. He’s tasked with rounding up super-powered individuals known as “harbingers,” but wouldn’t you know it? He quickly learns that there’s more going on than meets the eye.
Pearce will play Dr. Emil Harting, the scientist responsible for creating the technology that makes Bloodshot into a killing machine. In other words…we can probably assume that he’s playing the bad guy.
Bloodshotis being positioned as a possible franchise for Sony and the start of a brand new cinematic universe. If all goes according to plan,Bloodshotwill be followed by aHarbingermovie, culminating in aHarbinger Warscrossover. Films based onmismatched duoArcher & Armstrongandplus-size superheroFaithare in the works, as is aTV series based onQuantum and Woody.
It remains to be seen howBloodshotshapes up, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed. The modern Valiant comics have been consistently excellent, reinventing these characters and their world in thrilling, strange, and exciting ways. Characters like X-O Manowar and Ninjak (Ninjak!) often surpass what Marvel and DC are doing in their more famous universes. Valiant and Sony have something a little harder-edged and a lot more fresh to play with here.
Bloodshotwill be directed byDave Wilson, from a script byArrivalscreenwriterEric Heisserer. It is set to hit theaters onFebruary 21, 2020.
