Red Sonja has officially begun production. The film, which stars Matilda Lutz, is a new adaptation of the Red Sonja comics. Previously, an adaptation was made in 1985, which starred Brigitte Nielsen in the title role.
Red Sonja is a character that was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith back in 1973. She was partially inspired by Robert E. Howard's character Red Sonya of Rogatino from his short story "The Shadow of the Vulture." Sonja quickly became an archetype for the chainmail-bikini-clad female warrior that dominated the genre for many years to come. Though the film had previously found its Red Sonja in Ant-Man and the Wasp star Hannah John-Kamen, it appears John-Kamen dropped out of the role due to scheduling conflicts, and the role will now be played by Matilda Lutz.
Millennium Media announced that principal photography had begun for Red Sonja on August 23. In addition to Lutz in the starring role, the studio also announced some additional cast members. Wallis Day, star of Sex/Life and Batwoman, has been cast as Annisia (in the comics, known as Dark Annisia, villainous half-sister of Red Sonja). Robert Sheehan, star of Misfits and Netflix's The Umbrella Academy (entering its fourth and final season) will star as Draygan.
Red Sonja, known in the comics as the She-Devil With a Sword, will also be joined on screen by characters like Hawk (played by Michael Bisping), General Karlak, (Martyn Ford), and Amarak (Eliza Mantengu). Other cast members include Manal El Feitury as Ayala, and Katrina Durden as Saevus. M.J. Bassett is set to direct the film with a script by Joey Soloway and Tasha Huo. Production will start at Bulgarian Nu Boyana Studio, while additional shoots will occur at Greek Nu Boyana Studio.
Red Sonja appears to be a faithful adaptation of the comics. Fans of sword-and-sorcery films will definitely want to check it out. Howard's work is famous for shaping the genre, with Conan the Barbarian numbering as one of his most famous creations. The original Conan the Barbarian, which also came out in the 1980s alongside the Red Sonja film, also happened to star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who went on to portray Lord Kalidor in the Red Sonja film.
While the original film has become a cult classic due to its campiness, this new adaptation is likely to capture the audience's attention. Its casting is already interesting, as talents like Sheehan are no stranger to comic adaptations, and their portrayals are sure to be promising.
Red Sonja is now in production.
Source: Millenium Media