The film adaptation of Pierce Brown's "Red Rising" saga has found a new home at Paramount, with director Francis Lawrence confirming the project is now a priority for the studio. Lawrence, known for his work on "The Hunger Games" franchise, has been attached to the "Red Rising" movie for nearly eight years.
Originally developed as a series at Netflix, the adaptation faced multiple setbacks due to "regime changes" within the streamer's leadership. "They never got the guts to pull the trigger on it," Lawrence explained, noting the project's considerable budget requirements.
Following the reversion of rights to author Pierce Brown, the project moved to Paramount. Lawrence expressed his preference for a theatrical release, believing the "Red Rising" universe is deserving of a "theatrical experience and IMAX and the whole thing."
A writer is currently attached and beginning work on the script. "Hopefully that's something that we will put together quite quickly," Lawrence said, adding his excitement about the studio's commitment to the film. He highlighted his close relationship with Brown and his passion for the source material, which he feels is worthy of a big-screen adaptation.
Lawrence also touched upon the protracted development of the "BioShock" movie, another high-profile video game adaptation he is involved with. He assured fans that as a gamer himself, he is dedicated to remaining faithful to the original game's material despite the extended production timeline.