Columbia Pictures has acquired the screen rights to The Shadow, the legendary 1930s pulp hero, for an adaptation to be produced by Sam Raimi (the “Spider-Man” movies) and Josh Donen through their Buckaroo Entertainment. Michael Uslan is also producing via his Comic Book Movies, Llc/Branded Entertainment.
Columbia has set Siavash Farahani to write the screenplay, says The Hollywood Reporter.
The Shadow debuted in 1931 on a CBS radio show which aimed to boost the magazine circulation of sponsor Street & Smith. The character was actually the moniker for the announcer, and listeners began demanding stories based on the name.
Walter B. Gibson created the character, writing the adventures of a crime-fighter who skulked in shadows wearing a hat and cape, and who had the power to cloud men’s minds.
The Shadow became one of the greatest pulp heroes of the time, and the radio series, which featured a young Orson Welles, spawned the catchphrase “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!”
The character’s most recent incarnation was a big-budget 1994 feature from Universal starring Alec Baldwin and directed by Russell Mulcahy.
“I’ve been a passionate Shadow fan ever since I was a kid and have long dreamed of bringing this character to the screen,” Raimi said. He is not attached to direct at this time.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
