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Oxford-based games publisher Rebellion, creator of Sniper Elite and the upcoming Strange Brigade, has struck a deal with Duncan Jones, director of Moon and Source Code, to bring Rogue Trooper to the big screen.
The publisher, which also owns and operates comic 2000AD, will create the film as a joint venture, with Rebellion’s Jason Kingsley and Chris Kingsley in executive producer roles. Producer Stuart Fenegan will produce the film under his and Jones’ Liberty Films banner.
Rogue Trooper is one of the comic’s most-cherished old characters, though as with all his stablemates he has lived somewhat in the shadow of Judge Dredd. The character was seen recently though in Rogue Trooper Redux, a remake of his titular 2006 shooter,
Duncan Jones is excited about the character and project: “For years now, I have felt a sting as Marvel and DC have poured out their entire comic roster into film. Wonderful for their fans, but every new release I silently scream ‘Where’s all the 2000 AD?!’ 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!"
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.”
As we reported last year, Rebellion was keen to expand its licensing of the 2000AD properties, in terms of games at least, but that now seems to have led onto something potentially far bigger for the company. Whether this then leads to a new Rogue Trooper game remains to be seen.
For those who didn’t thrill to his often-grim adventures through the eighties, Rogue Trooper was created by Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons. He’s 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.
Fenegan simply added: “Eat leaden death Nort scum!”
