Tom Cruise Considers “Sleeper” Adaptation
The Hollywood Reporter recently indicated that Tom Cruise has taken a fancy to Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ gritty superhero-noir series Sleeper, and seems inclined to set the adaptation project up at Warner Bros. with Sam Raimi tagged as producer. Cruise has been "loosely" attached to star in the big-screen version of the DC/Wildstorm title, which was one of the more adult-fare comics to come out of the publisher in recent years.
However, with all of the hub-bub surrounding the Warner Bros. adaptation of Watchmen these days, THR reports that the studio is being meticulous with its pursuit of the rights to Sleeper.
Even if Cruise opts not to do "Sleeper," his interest in the project is propelling it forward, despite complicated rights issues that must be sorted out. Raimi and Donen have long been fans of the book, and the project could have found homes at Sony and Regency if those issues hadn’t been so complex.
"Sleeper" takes place in the same publishing universe as other Wildstorm books, and integrally featured characters from the company’s flagship title "WildC.A.T.s" as well as characters from another book, "Gen 13."
Here’s an aspect of the story that’s also of note — apparently, Sleeper isn’t the only Wildstorm title being considered for adaptation:
Both "WildC.A.T.s" and "Gen 13" had been set up at different places around town and some of those deals were made before DC bought the imprint in 1999.
It’s a tangled web for sure, but of all the series being optioned lately, this one seems like an entirely viable story for the big screen. Although one has to wonder whether they’ll tone down the high level of violence and sexual themes in the story… and if so, will it still pack the punch that made it a favorite of so many readers (including myself)?