The Red Sonja reboot has definitely been a long-time coming. The movie, which suffered multiple setbacks, has been in development for over a decade, having first started in 2008. Despite having enough source material to draw from, the adaptation experienced continuous difficulty making its way off the ground. Having changed hands multiple times, the reboot’s future remained murky for quite some time.

Now that the film has finally entered production, the current Red Sonja reboot will be the second time the heroine is brought to screens. The first Red Sonja live-action adaptation took place back in 1985. The film starred Brigitte Nielsen and Arnold Schwarzenegger, with Nielsen playing the sword and sorcery character, Sonja. Despite the noteworthy names, the film was a disastrous failure and labeled a box office flop. Hoping that the second time’s the charm for Red Sonja and the remake has better luck than the initial film, here’s everything we know about the upcoming Red Sonja reboot!

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

Red Sonja Reboot: The Plot

     MGM/UA Entertainment Co

At the time of writing, plot details regarding the reboot are scarce. We do know that the reboot is expected to be more or less an adaptation of the comic books by Dynamite Entertainment.

Red Sonja will be based on the heroine initially brought to life by American fantasy writer Robert E. Howard. The character was reshaped to fit Marvel Comics by writer Roy Thomas and artist Barry Windsor-Smith in 1973 and became widely known as a sword-wielding comic book heroine. While Marvel’s tenure with the character ended in 1986, Dynamite Entertainment gave life to the character once again in 2005.

As per Deadline, the character who will appear in the reboot is described as a “fearsome warrior boasting a high degree of skill with a sword.” The reboot will likely bring a fair amount of action to the screen.

Red Sonja Reboot: Cast

     Rezo Films

Matilda Lutz will take on the titular role of the sword-wielding heroine. A first-look image released by Millenium Films shows the actress as a red-haired warrior, ready to swing her sword. The Italian model and actress has previously starred in the revenge thriller Revenge, Rings, and also had roles in Netflix’s Medici and They Were Ten. Talking of the decision to cast Lutz in the role of Sonja with Deadline, director M. J. Bassett said:

Millennium Media’s president, Jeffrey Greenstein, also had nothing but praise for the actress. Talking of the partnership between Bassett and Lutz, Greenstein said:

“I’ve wanted to make a Red Sonja movie since I was a teenager – she has been a powerful presence for me and a character that I have always wanted to bring to the screen with my own voice and vision. When I met Matilda Lutz, I knew she had all the magic I was looking for and could see the complexity and depth she would bring to Sonja.”

Lutz will be joined by co-stars Wallis Day, who is slated to take on the role of Annisa, and Robert Sheehan, who will play Draygan. Veronica Ferres was recently announced to have joined the cast as Red Sonja’s mother, the Goddess Ashera. The cast list also includes Martyn Ford, who is set to play General Karlak, with Kate Nichols as Barret, Katrina Durden as Saevus, Michael Bisping as Hawk, Oliver Trevena as Tr’aal, Eliza Matengu as Amarak, Manal El-Feitury as Ayala and Dania Davis.

“M.J. is an amazing filmmaker with fantastic vision and Matilda was absolutely brilliant in Revenge that we knew she was right for this role the moment we saw her – making them the perfect duo for Red Sonja.”

The reboot will follow a script by Joey Soloway and Tasha Huo. Mark Canton, Courtney Solomon, Luke Lieberman, Les Weldon, Jeffrey Greenstein, Jonathan Yunger, Yariv Lerner, and Joe Gatta act as producers for the film. Taking on the positions of executive producers are Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, Boaz Davidson, Dorothy Canton, Tanner Mobley, Nick Barrucci, Lati Grobman, Christa Campbell, Heidi Jo Markel, and Joey Soloway. M. J. Bassett will lead the reboot as director.

Red Sonja Reboot’s Production

     Marvel Studios

The Red Sonja reboot has spent significant time in development, switching between numerous actors, actresses, and directors over the years. Directors such as Robert Rodriguez, Bryan Singer, and Simon West were attached to the film but plans continuously fell through, and the reboot never took flight. The film also had trouble sticking to a lead actress, with Hannah John-Kamen, Rose McGowan, and Amber Heard being considered for the role at varying points in time.

McGowan, who was pinned to the role for some time, dropped out due to an injury that resulted in permanent damage to her right arm. Ant-Man and The Wasp actress Hannah John-Kamen was the most recent to drop out of the reboot, leaving production in March 2022. The actress is reported to have forfeited the role due to scheduling conflicts. With a steady stream of ill luck following the reboot’s production, many hope that current plans for the reboot go through without a hitch.

Release Date

The Red Sonja reboot is currently in production at the Bulgarian Nu Boyana Studio, with filming expected to continue at the Greek Nu Boyana Studio. Given that the film is still in the first stages of production, no release date has been confirmed at the time of writing. However, if the team does not encounter any unexpected setbacks, the reboot will likely premiere in the last quarter of 2023.