The 2000AD team, comic creators and fans have welcomed the news that acclaimed filmmaker Duncan Jones is to bring Rogue Trooper to the big screen. The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic has released a free character primer and a huge number artists have been tweeting examples of their interpretation of the battle-hardened Genetic Infantryman created by Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons back in 1981.
While details are still scant, what we do know is that the new film will see the critically-lauded director of Moon, Source Code, Warcraft and Mute Duncan Jones write and direct the as-yet-unnamed picture.
Jones confirmed the new joint venture between Liberty Films and Rebellion, the Oxford-based games publishers and owners of 2000 AD, on his Twitter account in his own unique style…
As promised… pic.twitter.com/6y3pzn2Cn1
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) July 15, 2018
“For years now, I have felt a sting as Marvel and DC have poured out their entire comic roster into film,” he said. “Wonderful for their fans, but every new release I silently scream ‘Where’s all the 2000AD?!’
“I’m so excited to finally be able to right that wrong and bring Finley-Day and Gibbons’ Rogue Trooper, a seminal British spun war yarn, to the big screen!”
Rogue Trooper by Cam Kennedy
Rogue Trooper by Colin Wilson
Rogue Trooper by Staz Johnson,. who is clearly ready to fight all comers to storyboard the film…
Jason Kingsley, CEO and Creative Director of Rebellion, said: “Rogue Trooper has always been one of my favourite old school thrills from 2000 AD. I’m very happy to be working closely with Duncan and Stuart on this project and look forward to seeing the results on the silver screen.”
Chris Kingsley, Co-founder and CTO of Rebellion, said: “The first time I met Duncan he had a Mohawk – I’m tickled pink to see he’s now brought it back with a full-on Nu blue. It shows his unique level of commitment and passion for Rogue Trooper, and that’s why we’re so excited to be working with him and his legions.”
The deal was negotiated by producer Stuart Fenegan and Rebellion’s Jason Kingsley. Fenegan will produce the film under his and Jones’ Liberty Films banner, Jason Kingsley and Chris Kingsley will Executive Produce.
Fenegan said: “Eat leaden death Nort scum!”
Rogue Trooper by Henry Flint
Rogue Trooper by PJ Holden
Rogue Trooper is one of the greatest characters to come out of 2000AD, which also publishes characters such as Judge Dredd, Nemesis the Warlock, and Strontium Dog. Created by Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons, Rogue Trooper is a genetically-engineered soldier bred to fight on Nu-Earth, a hellish planet consumed by an endless war between the Norts and the Southers.
The sole survivor of a massacre that claimed his fellow GIs, Rogue sets out on a mission to find the traitor who betrayed them – the personalities of three dead comrades plugged into his helmet, backpack, and rifle.
Art from the Rogue Trooper Redux game
Last year. Rebellion re-released their Rogue Trooper game across several platforms with an all-new look.
An unofficial not for profit fan film, Rogue Trooper: The Quartz Massacre, which Duncan Jones has praised on Twitter, has gained over 100,000 views since it was released.
Duncan Jones is one of a generation of leading British film directors who have been inspired by the satirical, anti-establishment and hyper-violent comic strips in 2000 AD. First published in 1977, 2000AD has been at the cutting edge of British culture for four decades and continues to publish ground-breaking science fiction, fantasy, and horror comics.
Liberty Films was founded in 2005 by producer Stuart Fenegan and director Duncan Jones. Established in the competitive London advertising industry, their successful creative partnership has resulted in four feature films to date: Mute, starring Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd and Justin Theroux, for Netflix, launched in February 2018; and Warcraft, for Legendary Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment and Universal Pictures, grossed $430 million at the worldwide box office in 2016.
The critically acclaimed Source Code, featuring Jake Gyllenhaal was released by Summit Entertainment in 2011; and Moon, Jones’ feature directorial debut, led by Sam Rockwell, won the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer in 2009. Fenegan was also nominated with Moon for the BAFTA for Best British Film.
Liberty Films have several TV and film projects in development for Jones and other rising British directorial talent.
Founded in 1992, Rebellion is one of Europe’s leading independent game developers and publishers. Whether it’s the breathtaking intensity of Sniper Elite 4, the face-hugging terror of Aliens vs. Predator or the grindhouse frenzy of Zombie Army Trilogy, the Oxford-based studio is known for creating stand-out games that thrill players.
Rogue Trooper by Ron Smith
2000 AD should need no introduction to downthetubes readers, but if you’ve just joined us… it’s the legendary weekly British anthology comic – the home of Judge Dredd and a galaxy of original sci-fi, fantasy, and horror action stars. Producing innovative and provocative comics for 40 years, it has brought the industry some of its biggest talents, from Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, and Mark Millar, to Jock, Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, and many more.
Published in print and digital every Wednesday, 2000 AD is the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic and remains at the industry’s cutting edge.
Rogue Trooper by Raid71
• 2000AD are offering a free comic book download featuring classic and new Rogue Trooper stories. It’s available from here: http://2000ad.com/roguetrooperprimer
• More at: www.2000AD.com
• Follow the team on Twitter: @ManMadeMoon @LibertyFilms and @Rebellion
[amazon_link asins=’1906735344,1906735468,1781080682,1781082308,B073PHLMNR,B00D77YM2U’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’downthetubes’ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’436d00a9-89d0-11e8-bfc0-9dfaa6e34477′]
Rogue Trooper © Rebellion 2000 AD Ltd.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: 2000AD, British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Film, Other Worlds
Related Articles
-
Dredd versus Dalek, and Comics and Beyond, a special artists event in Eastbourne
-
Massive list of comic creators revealed for London Film & Comic Con next month
-
Big Screen Outing for 2000AD-inspired Strontium Dog Fan Film at London
-
“Bring Back DREDD” Campaign Shifts Focus from film sequel, calls for TV Series