Movies based on comic books are the biggest genre in Hollywood right now, and while two major publishers are responsible for the vast majority of popular heroes, they are far from the only game in town. The biggest upcoming movie based on a non-Marvel or DC name is probably Bloodshot, which will star Vin Diesel in the title role, and he celebrated the first day of filming on the new project by posting a video for fans from his location in Africa. Check it out.
Bloodshot is apparently shooting in Africa, though exactly where Vin Diesel doesn't say (and it's a fairly big continent) and it's very early in the morning, but Vin Diesel is up, and hanging out in the gym apparently, to talk about how blessed he feels to be able to make movies for a living. He's clearly still a little tired from waking up at 4:45 AM, but still appears to be excited to get started on Bloodshot.
He's joined by Dave Wilson, Bloodshot's director who is being given his first opportunity to direct a feature film. Previously, Wilson's resume has included a number of jobs in the visual effects field for both movies and video games.
Bloodshot takes some cues from Captain America as the character is an engineered super soldier, though one who is used a bit more like The Winter Soldier than he is the American hero. This means we are very likely in for an action-packed, and potentially violent, Bloodshot movie. Vin Diesel certainly has no problem with action as he is part of numerous franchises, though this will be his first opportunity to play a comic book hero and actually be seen on screen. Previously he has provided the voice of Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
Bloodshot currently has a release date set for February of 2020. This means the film is getting started a lot earlier than most effects-heavy blockbusters, which may only begin shooting a year or so before release. This could mean that the Bloodshot shoot is expected to take longer than usual, or that post-production is expected to be a longer process. Though, it could also simply mean that Vin Diesel is a high demand actor and this is when he was available to film.
In addition to Vin Diesel, Bloodshot has put together an impressive cast that also includes Toby Kebbell, Eiza Gonzalez, and Michael Sheen.
It will certainly be exciting to see a non-DC or Marvel character get the same sort of big-screen treatment as the big boys. Bloodshot is part of his own comic book universe, so if the film is a success, perhaps there will be more of them in the future.
