Producer Turns Attention from ‘Punisher’ to ‘Magdalena’

Producer Gale Ann Hurd told Sci Fi Wire that  she envision Magdalena as  a blend of "Da Vinci Code meets Wanted", employing the shorthand producers and studio execs use to sell a project by invoking familiar concepts in a new way.  This way, risk-adverse studios feel more confident in going with something different, but not too different.

"The character doesn’t have superpowers," Hurd explained. "So I think it will be intense, but it will more than likely be a PG-13 as opposed to an R just because of the world of the character and the world of the comic book. It’s really exciting. We’re working with Matt [Hawkins] at Top Cow, and we’re working with a writer. We hope to have that up and running toward the end of the year.”

"The character doesn’t have super-powers," Hurd explained. "So I think it will be intense, but it will more than likely be a PG-13 as opposed to an R just because of the world of the character and the world of the comic book. It’s really exciting. We’re working with Matt [Hawkins] at Top Cow, and we’re working with a writer. We hope to have that up and running toward the end of the year." No writer or director has been named to the project.

The adaptation of the Top Cow series will feature Jenna DeWan (Step Up) is set to play Patience,  the latest in the Magdalena bloodline, which traces back to Mary Magdalene. The current embodiment of the line becomes the warrior and protector of the Catholic Church.

She first appeared in 1998 and  spun out of the pages of The Darkness and has starred in two solo miniseries.

While promoting today’s release of Punisher: War Zone, she also looked back to the summer and the reimagined Incredible Hulk movie.

"I think it successfully rebooted it," Hurd said. "I think the fans liked it, the general audience liked it. It’s been huge on DVD. I was just talking with [Marvel Studios chairman] David Maisel last night. The two big DVDs so far this year that have been released are Iron Man and Hulk, so it’s always nice to see that it continues to build its fan base

"[I’m] hoping there’s a sequel, but right now Marvel has its hands full with the slate they’ve announced," she said. "If there’s a sequel, it wouldn’t be until probably 2012." Marvel has not announced any firm plans for any project after 2011.