EXCLUSIVE

〉Alvarez wrote a previous draft of the supervillain-turned-anti hero comic adaptation

Emerging helmer Fede Alvarez, best known for delivering the Evil Dead remake, has now signed on to direct Sony Pictures’ INCOGNITO. Based on the comic of the same name written by Ed Brubaker, Icognito follows Zack Overkill, a supervillain who becomes enlisted in the witness protection program after he snitches on his megalomaniac boss, The Black Death. Confined to a dreary life working as a mailman, Zack’s forced to take a drug to dull his powers. After discovering a way to tap into his super strength again, Zack develops a change of heart and becomes a vigilante, doing good while evading a vengeful Black Death.

Alvarez was already hired to script the adaptation with writing partner Rodo Sayagues, but sources confirm that he’s now sitting in the director’s chair. Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping will produce the action pic, while Circle of Confusion’s David Engel and Stephen Emery will executive produce. Jonathan Kadin and Tonia Davis will oversee development for the studio.

The project was previously in development at 20th Century Fox with Robert Schenkkan scripting. Alvarez and Sayagues penned the latest draft, though I’m hearing that the studio is now looking for another writer to board.

Incognito hit shelves from December 2008 to September 2009 via Marvel’s imprint Icon Comics. The six-issue series, which was followed by five-issue sequel Incognito: Bad Influences, was written by Brubaker and illustrated by Sean Phillips.

Alvarez burst onto the scene with his gory remake of cult-favorite horror entry Evil Dead. Making his directorial debut on the project and having been uniquely picked by franchise creator Sam Rami, Alvarez’s vision was commended for its potent combination of brutal terror, excessive gore, and unrelenting violence. The emerging horror auteur will also script the follow-up, though he’s currently at work on an untitled horror/thriller for Ghost House Pictures and is slated to direct the Dante’s Inferno adaptation for Universal.

Alvarez is repped by WME and Anonymous Content.

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Clark Allen | Associate Editor