It’s been already a few days that we didn’t have any news about any new James Wan project. That was broken yesterday when we got confirmation that filmmaker Rebecca Thomas has been the chosen one to direct the film adaptation of Wan’s graphic novel Malignant Man.
After some short films, Rebecca Thomas’ debut film, the delicious drama Electrick Children (2012), also written by her, was a critics success even achieving some awards and nominations in prestigious festivals like Film Independent Spirit Awards or SXSW Film Festival. This next October the episode she directed for the hit TV series Stranger Things (2016– ), entitled The Secret Cabin, is airing world wide. Also, it was announced that she would also be responsible for a new adaptation of The Little Mermaid, with a script by veteran comedy author Richard Curtis. Undoubtfully, Rebecca Thomas is a name we are going to hear about often in the upcoming years.
Malignant Man is a 2011 graphic novel by James Wan. In it, Alan Gates, a cancer patient with a terminal diagnosis, is resigned to his fate until he discovers that his tumor is actually a mysterious parasite. Granted a second lease on life and incredible, otherworldly powers, he must fight against an evil army buried beneath society’s skin, all the while unlocking the secrets of his forgotten past. The adaptation rights for this very dark and twisted comic book were acquired by 20th Century Fox in June 2014. James Wan mentioned that he would develop of the movie together with the final director and would produce the film. Comic book label BOOM! Studios are slated for a production role alongside co-producers Stephen Christy, Ross Richie and Adam Yoelin. Before Rebecca Thomas being announced as director, Brad Peyton was ahead of all the polls for the position.
