Last week we told you that the option on Torso, the post-Untouchables Eliot Ness serial killer movie (variously known as Ness) was expiring over at Paramount. We heard that the option on Brian Michael Bendis’ graphic novel was up this week and that the project would fall into oblivion.
Fear not. Reader Eric Cordo emailed to tell us that Torso producer (and comic book guy) Todd McFarlane was just on the Bubba the Love Sponge show (sorry to out you as a Bubba the Love Sponge listener, Eric) saying that the film has been greenlit.
But wait! Todd’s half right. I called around to sources close to the movie and in Paramount and received confirmation that Paramount is exercising the option and that the movie has become a priority. Budgeting is happening right now as we speak. But that isn’t quite the same thing as a green light, and it’s important to note that while this film is off the brink of dissolution (if it even was there in the first place), it’s not exactly ready to go before the cameras. But now it’s in a good position, and Paramount is apparently pretty gung ho about it.
Expect more news on Torso in the weeks to come, or early next year.