Los Angeles, CA – August 23, 2022 – Millennium Media announced today that they have started principal photography on the highly anticipated comic book adaptation, “Red Sonja,” starring Matilda Lutz (“Revenge,” “Rings,” “Medici”) as Red Sonja, Wallis Day (“Sex/Life,” “Batwoman”) as Annisia, and Robert Sheehan (“The Umbrella Academy,” “Misfits”) as Draygan.
Additional cast includes Michael Bisping (“xXx: Return of Xander Cageö) as Hawk, Martyn Ford as General Karlak (“F9: The Fast Saga,” “Final Score”), Eliza Matengu (“Thor: Love and Thunder”) as Amarak, Manal El Feitury (“Code Red”) as Ayala, and Katrina Durden (“Doctor Strange,” “Shadow and Bone”) as Saevus. M.J. Bassett (“Solomon Kane”) will be directing with the script written by Joey Soloway (“Transparent”) and Tasha Huo (Netflix’s “Tomb Raider”). The production will start at the Bulgarian Nu Boyana Studio with additional shoots at the Greek Nu Boyana Studio.
“Red Sonja” is derived from the sword and sorcery comic books of the same name by Dynamite Entertainment, based on the heroine created by Robert E. Howard and adapted by Roy Thomas.
“I’ve wanted to make a ‘Red Sonja’ movie since I was a teenager – she has been a powerful presence for me and a character that I have always wanted to bring to the screen with my own voice and vision. When I met Matilda Lutz, I knew she had all the magic I was looking for and could see the complexity and depth she would bring to Sonja,” stated M.J. Bassett.
“This has been a long journey from script to screen, and we are excited to go into production after assembling the best creative team, an amazing band of up-and-coming talent, and a fun and fantastical world fueled by the ‘Red Sonja’ IP. M.J. is an amazing filmmaker with a fantastic vision, and Matilda was absolutely brilliant in ‘Revenge’ that we knew she was right for this role the moment we saw her – making them the perfect duo for ‘Red Sonja,’” said Millennium Media’s President, Jeffrey Greenstein.
“I’ve been working with the Millennium production team on adapting this extraordinary graphic novel since Luke Lieberman brought it to us seven years ago. M.J. is a fantastic filmmaker who truly understands the power of this story that will ignite audiences everywhere. In the realm of fantasy and graphic novels, there is no greater, more empowered female character who has stood the test of time. Courtney Solomon and I are privileged to be a part of this fabulous producing team,” Producer Mark Canton stated.
Matilda Lutz’s recent projects include Paramount Pictures “Zone 414” starring Guy Pearce, “Neon’s Revenge,” and Paramount Pictures’ “Rings” starring Vincent D’Onofrio, and Netflix’s “Medici starring Daniel Sharman. Her upcoming projects include Netflix’s “Reptile” with Alicia Silverstone, Benicio Del Toro, Frances Fisher, and Justin Timberlake, “Helen’s Dead” starring Dylan Gelula and Emile Hirsch, and “Magpie” with Daisy Ridley and Shazad Latif. Lutz is repped by The Gersh Agency, Matt Goldman, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein.
Wallis Day is best known for her roles in Paramount’s “Infinite” starring Mark Wahlberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rupert Friend, and Dylan O’Brien, E!’s “The Royals” starring Elizabeth Hurley, Syfy’s “Krypton” starring Hannah Waddingham, and The CW’s “Batwoman” starring Ruby Rose. Her upcoming projects include Paramount’s “Sheroes” starring Isabelle Fuhrman and Netflix’s “Sex/Life” starring Sarah Shahi and Mike Vogel. Day is repped by UTA.
Robert Sheehan is best known for his role as Klaus in Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy,” starring Elliot Page, Aidan Gallagher, Tom Hopper, Emmy Raver-Lampman, David Casteneda, and Rita Arya. Sheehan is also known for his roles in Sony’s “The Mortal Instruments” Franchise starring Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower, “Misfits” starring Iwan Rheon and Antonia Thomas, and Amazon’s “Fortitude” starring Dennis Quaid. Sheehan is repped by Lisa Richards Agency and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan.
M.J. Bassett’s projects include “Solomon Kane” starring James Purefoy and Starz!’s “Power” starring Omari Hardwick. Her recent projects include Lionsgate’s “Endangered Species” starring Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell, Lionsgate’s “Rogue” starring Megan Fox, and episodes with Freeform’s “Motherland: Fort Salem,” Netflix’s “Altered Carbon,” and Syfy’s “Nightflyers.” M.J. is repped by Ragna Nervik Management and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan.
Producers include Mark Canton (“300,” “Power”), Courtney Solomon (“Cake,” “After”), Luke Lieberman on behalf of Red Sonja LLC, Millennium Media’s Les Weldon, Jeffrey Greenstein, Jonathan Yunger, and Yariv Lerner, and Joe Gatta (“Out of the Furnace,” “Conan the Barbarian”).
Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, and Boaz Davidson from Millennium Media are Executive Producers alongside Dorothy Canton, Millennium Media’s Tanner Mobley, Nick Barrucci on behalf of Dynamite Entertainment, Lati Grobman and Christa Campbell on behalf of Campbell Grobman Films, Eclectic Picture’s Heidi Jo Markel, and Joey Soloway on behalf of Topple.
Hannah John Kamen has stepped aside as the lead of “Red Sonja” due to scheduling conflicts, and Joey Soloway will remain in their role as an EP.
