America had just crawled out from under its Vietnam hangover when Stephen J. Cannell's "The A-Team" blasted its way into the country's living rooms on January 23, 1983. NBC did not have high expectations for the show, but when the second episode -- which aired after Super Bowl Xvii (the one where Washington's John Riggins rushed with shocking impunity against Miami's defense) -- scored sky-high ratings, the network realized it had a hit on its hands.
It was the right show for a weird moment in American history. The country had gone gung-ho. We were at the advent of the '80s action hero era, and everyone was flocking to bloody, high-caliber entertainments starring the likes of Charles Bronson, Chuck Norris, and Sylvester Stallone. Meanwhile, the pulpy adventures of Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan were flying off drug store bookshelves. There was an acute interest in vigilante justice, but people were...
It was the right show for a weird moment in American history. The country had gone gung-ho. We were at the advent of the '80s action hero era, and everyone was flocking to bloody, high-caliber entertainments starring the likes of Charles Bronson, Chuck Norris, and Sylvester Stallone. Meanwhile, the pulpy adventures of Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan were flying off drug store bookshelves. There was an acute interest in vigilante justice, but people were...
- 11/11/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
This, and the realisation that not everyone obeys the rules, to their obvious benefit, leads to appreciation for the anti-hero, or protagonists with their own value systems.
That may help to explain why we have a sneaking admiration — or interest, at least — in fictional characters whose "heroic" credentials are quite vague as to morality, say James Bond, or his equally lethal but less glamorous American counterpart, Donald Hamilton’s Matt Helm.
Or for that matter, those compelled to take the law into their own hands, vigilante style — an entire host, spanning various genres and media, from Don Pendleton’s Mack Bolan, alias the Executioner, to V from "V for Vendetta", to Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) in the "Death Wish" series of films, to Bollywood’s Angry Young Man.
Then, there are those on the other "wrong side" of the law — ‘Godfathers’ Vito and Michael Corleone or other Mafia figures and a number of similar outlaws,...
That may help to explain why we have a sneaking admiration — or interest, at least — in fictional characters whose "heroic" credentials are quite vague as to morality, say James Bond, or his equally lethal but less glamorous American counterpart, Donald Hamilton’s Matt Helm.
Or for that matter, those compelled to take the law into their own hands, vigilante style — an entire host, spanning various genres and media, from Don Pendleton’s Mack Bolan, alias the Executioner, to V from "V for Vendetta", to Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) in the "Death Wish" series of films, to Bollywood’s Angry Young Man.
Then, there are those on the other "wrong side" of the law — ‘Godfathers’ Vito and Michael Corleone or other Mafia figures and a number of similar outlaws,...
- 8/28/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Tony Sokol Jan 20, 2019
The only good vigilante is a fictional vigilante and The Punisher is one of the best examples.
America loves revenge stories and Netflix serves up a cold dish of it with Marvel's The Punisher. The Punisher, like Batman, Spider-Man, the Green Hornet and so many other comic book heroes, is based on a mythical creature: The do-gooding, well-intentioned lone vigilante: Brave men, women and occasionally children and animals, who take the law into their own hands when society fails them.
The Punisher is a damaged version of that trope. Well-trained and filled with vengeance, he is a one-man posse who you can easily picture riding shotgun in Travis Bickle’s yellow cab in Taxi Driver. Although, he may prefer to prowl the subways with Bernie Goetz.
The Punisher was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist John Romita, Sr. for Marvel Comics. He first showed up...
The only good vigilante is a fictional vigilante and The Punisher is one of the best examples.
America loves revenge stories and Netflix serves up a cold dish of it with Marvel's The Punisher. The Punisher, like Batman, Spider-Man, the Green Hornet and so many other comic book heroes, is based on a mythical creature: The do-gooding, well-intentioned lone vigilante: Brave men, women and occasionally children and animals, who take the law into their own hands when society fails them.
The Punisher is a damaged version of that trope. Well-trained and filled with vengeance, he is a one-man posse who you can easily picture riding shotgun in Travis Bickle’s yellow cab in Taxi Driver. Although, he may prefer to prowl the subways with Bernie Goetz.
The Punisher was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist John Romita, Sr. for Marvel Comics. He first showed up...
- 3/14/2016
- Den of Geek
By Hank Reineke
In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll admit up front that Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir’s character, Remo Williams (aka “The Destroyer”) has played a small, but significant role in my life.
My older sister had been a high-school friend of one of the author’s daughters. Though the passing of time has made the chronology of events a bit hazy, I’m guessing it was through that friendship that I was first introduced to Warren Murphy’s teenage son. It was the son who – upon learning I was a big fan of his father’s pulp-paperback novels – graciously gifted me a personally autographed copy of The Destroyer #3: Chinese Puzzle (1972). This now-tattered paperback proudly sits on my book shelf to this very day. This, I guess, would have been about 1978. I was seventeen years old. I’m fifty-four now and admit I hadn’t...
In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll admit up front that Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir’s character, Remo Williams (aka “The Destroyer”) has played a small, but significant role in my life.
My older sister had been a high-school friend of one of the author’s daughters. Though the passing of time has made the chronology of events a bit hazy, I’m guessing it was through that friendship that I was first introduced to Warren Murphy’s teenage son. It was the son who – upon learning I was a big fan of his father’s pulp-paperback novels – graciously gifted me a personally autographed copy of The Destroyer #3: Chinese Puzzle (1972). This now-tattered paperback proudly sits on my book shelf to this very day. This, I guess, would have been about 1978. I was seventeen years old. I’m fifty-four now and admit I hadn’t...
- 12/6/2015
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
While Sam Smith and Beck dominated the 57th annual Grammy Awards, they were hardly the only winners Sunday night. From Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament (and Eddie Vedder, using his pseudonym "Jerome Turner") scoring Best Recording Package to Beyoncé taking home Best Surround Sound Album, here is the full rundown of all the Grammy winners.
Record of the Year
Sam Smith – "Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)"
Steve Fitzmaurice, Rodney Jerkins & Jimmy Napes, producers; Steve Fitzmaurice, Jimmy Napes & Steve Price, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer Label: Capitol Records; Publishers: Sony...
Record of the Year
Sam Smith – "Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)"
Steve Fitzmaurice, Rodney Jerkins & Jimmy Napes, producers; Steve Fitzmaurice, Jimmy Napes & Steve Price, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer Label: Capitol Records; Publishers: Sony...
- 2/8/2015
- Rollingstone.com
Complete list of winners and nominees of the 2014 Grammy Awards, held in Los Angeles at the Staples Center on Sunday February 8. Winners will be updated as they're announced during the telecast and pre-telecast. Record Of The Year “Fancy,” Iggy Azalea Featuring Charli Xcx “Chandelier,” Sia **Winner** “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version),” Sam Smith “Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift “All About That Bass,” Meghan Trainor Album Of The Year **Winner** “Morning Phase,” Beck “Beyoncé,” Beyoncé “X,” Ed Sheeran “In The Lonely Hour,” Sam Smith “Girl,” Pharrell Williams Song Of The Year “All About That Bass,” Kevin Kadish & Meghan Trainor, songwriters (Meghan Trainor) “Chandelier,” Sia Furler & Jesse Shatkin, songwriters (Sia) “Shake It Off,” Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift) **Winner** “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version),” James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith, songwriters (Sam Smith) “Take Me To Church,” Andrew Hozier-Byrne, songwriter (Hozier) Best New Artist Iggy Azalea Bastille Brandy Clark...
- 2/8/2015
- by Donna Dickens
- Hitfix
Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to the Mack Bolan book series written by Don Pendleton. The stories revolve around the Bolan character, who is an anti-terrorist operative. The studio is looking to build it as a starring vehicle for Bradley Cooper, and they also want Todd Phillips to come on board to direct it — Cooper and Phillips worked together on the Hangover films. The film will be written by Shane Salerno as soon as he's finished with James Cameron's Avatar 4.
According to Deadline, Salerno said his goal is to make a “relevant, grounded and gritty, real-world, PG-13 action-drama film series" with the elite commando Bolan as its catalyst for a trilogy. This could be a big action franchise for Cooper, who recently played Navy Seal Chris Kyle in the Clint Eastwood-directed film American Sniper.
Here's some additional information on the books and characters from Wiki:
Mack Bolan,...
According to Deadline, Salerno said his goal is to make a “relevant, grounded and gritty, real-world, PG-13 action-drama film series" with the elite commando Bolan as its catalyst for a trilogy. This could be a big action franchise for Cooper, who recently played Navy Seal Chris Kyle in the Clint Eastwood-directed film American Sniper.
Here's some additional information on the books and characters from Wiki:
Mack Bolan,...
- 8/20/2014
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
• Mark Wahlberg may star in the Bp oil rig explosion film Deepwater Horizon from All Is Lost director J.C. Chandor. The movie is adapted from The New York Times article “Deepwater Horizon’s Final Hour” and is based on the true story of the men who worked on the rig in the Gulf of Mexico when it exploded in 2010, causing one of the worst oil spills in history. Wahlberg would play the No. 2 manager on site. Matthew Michael Carnahan (World War Z) has adapted the latest draft based on an original version written by Matthew Sand. [Deadline]
• Warner Bros. has acquired...
• Warner Bros. has acquired...
- 8/19/2014
- by Jake Perlman
- EW - Inside Movies
Meadowland and other films have all made recent film casting, screenwriting, and director news. These films come from movie studios primarily based in the United States. The castings, screenwriters, and directors are subject to change. Mack Bolan Film Warner Bros has acquired the Don Pendleton anti-terrorist operative Mack Bolan novel series and will develop it [...]
Continue reading: Film Casting: Meadowland, Bradley Cooper in Mack Bolan Novel-to-Film...
Continue reading: Film Casting: Meadowland, Bradley Cooper in Mack Bolan Novel-to-Film...
- 8/19/2014
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Although Bradley Cooper was not physically onscreen during this summer’s Guardians of the Galaxy as the feisty and volatile Rocket Raccoon, his role voicing the smallest defender of the universe put him squarely on the path to becoming a bonafide action star. That raccoon knew what he was doing around a ray gun. And no, starring in the 2010 reboot of The A-Team definitely does not count. Cooper has never been an actor who has sat idly in his roles, picking parts that run the gamut from comedy, to romance, to drama and satire; it’s a natural progression that transforming into an action star would be next. Warner Bros. has a plan, acquiring the book rights to Mack Bolan, a character created by Don Pendleton, to create a starring vehicle for Cooper. The author chronicled Bolan in 37 novels often referred to as “The Mafia Wars,” but ghostwriters kept him alive in hundred of other serializations over...
- 8/19/2014
- by Samantha Wilson
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
You might not know the name Mack Bolan, but the secret agent has been the hero of more than 600 novels. Yeah, that's right. And you thought James Bond was prolific. But while 007 has been tearing it up in 30-some movies based on the Ian Fleming books, Mack Bolan has struggled for decades to make to the big screen. But at long last it looks like this storied spy will get there, thanks to Bradley Cooper. Deadline reports Warner Bros. has secured the rights to Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan book series, buying them from screenwriter/producer Shane Salerno. From here, the studio is developing a vehicle for two-time Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper, who is also set to co-produce the pic. Cooper will share producing duties with Salerno as well as Todd Phillips, his director in The Hangover I, II & III. Phillips could ultimately helm this Cooper movie too. Mack Bolan...
- 8/19/2014
- cinemablend.com
Don Pendleton’s anti-terrorist operative Mack Bolan may finally be making his way to the big screen, after decades of failed attempts, now that Warner Bros. has acquired rights to the novel series and is developing it as a star vehicle for Bradley Cooper, with that actor’s Hangover helmer Todd Phillips potentially directing.
Shane Salerno, who is co-writing Avatar 4, acquired the rights to the iconic character from Pendleton’s estate. He’s set to pen the script for a Mack Bolan film as well as produce. The project will be Salerno’s next, as soon as he finishes up the Avatar fourquel with James Cameron. Days ago, he said that his goal with Mack Bolan was to create a “relevant, grounded and gritty, real-world, PG-13 action-drama film series,” with that character as the star of an initial trilogy.
Pendleton wrote 38 Mack Bolan books before handing the series over...
Shane Salerno, who is co-writing Avatar 4, acquired the rights to the iconic character from Pendleton’s estate. He’s set to pen the script for a Mack Bolan film as well as produce. The project will be Salerno’s next, as soon as he finishes up the Avatar fourquel with James Cameron. Days ago, he said that his goal with Mack Bolan was to create a “relevant, grounded and gritty, real-world, PG-13 action-drama film series,” with that character as the star of an initial trilogy.
Pendleton wrote 38 Mack Bolan books before handing the series over...
- 8/19/2014
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
Coming off killing terrorists as real-life Navy Seal Chris Kyle in “American Sniper,” Bradley Cooper is continuing his terrorist killing streak by playing the fictional Mack Bolan for Warner bros. The deal for the Don Pendleton series of novels is courtesy of Warner Bros., who is said to have acquired the character for a cool 7-figures to have Cooper produce and possibly star, with “The Hangover’s” Todd Phillips possibly in the director’s chair. Oh come on, you know Cooper is starring in this thing. You don’t shell out 7-figures to buy the movie rights to a book series without the actor already promising you he’ll star in it. That is, unless Cooper’s star fades in a few years, then I can see Warner ditching him and not the other way around. Anyways, “Avatar” writer Shane Salerno is penning the script, and promises a “relevant, grounded and gritty,...
- 8/19/2014
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
Everyone from Steve McQueen to Sylvester Stallone, Clint Eastwood and Vin Diesel have been attached to a big screen adaptation of Mack Bolan (a.k.a. The Executioner) over the years, but a movie featuring the character who was introduced by author Don Pendleton in 1969 has never actually happened.
Pendleton wrote 37 novels in the series, while over 600 have since been produced by ghost writers. That gives any filmmaker a lot of material to work with, and it now appears as if it’s finally moving ahead.
Warner Bros. have hired Shane Salerno (Savages, Avatar 4) to pen the screenplay, with The Hangover’s Todd Phillips attached to direct. The project is being lined up for Bradley Cooper (American Hustle) to play the titular character, and the plan is for Salerno’s script to be the first in a trilogy.
Salerno, Phillips, and Cooper are all set to produce this adaptation of Mack Bolan as well.
Pendleton wrote 37 novels in the series, while over 600 have since been produced by ghost writers. That gives any filmmaker a lot of material to work with, and it now appears as if it’s finally moving ahead.
Warner Bros. have hired Shane Salerno (Savages, Avatar 4) to pen the screenplay, with The Hangover’s Todd Phillips attached to direct. The project is being lined up for Bradley Cooper (American Hustle) to play the titular character, and the plan is for Salerno’s script to be the first in a trilogy.
Salerno, Phillips, and Cooper are all set to produce this adaptation of Mack Bolan as well.
- 8/19/2014
- by Josh Wilding
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
In case you didn't know, after working on The Hangover trilogy together, Bradley Cooper and Todd Phillips have formed their own production label at Warner Bros., and they're not wasting anytime lining up projects for the big screen. Deadline reports the studio has acquired Don Pendleton's book series featuring recurring anti-terrorist operative Mack Bolan and will develop the film as a vehicle for Cooper to lead and Phillips to potentially direct as well. Avatar sequel writer Shane Salerno, who had the rights to the series from Pendleton's estate, will produce the film with the duo, in addition to writing the script. More below! There are 38 books featuring Bolan, written by Pendleton himself, that were published over 11 years. Then the author supervised a group of ghostwriters who were tasked with writing two books per month when the series was at its highest point in popularity. New books are published every...
- 8/19/2014
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Warner Bros has acquired the rights to the Mack Bolan novels, with Bradley Cooper in line to star in the project.
Cooper's Hangover director Todd Phillips is being lined up to direct the film based on Don Pendleton's anti-terrorism series, reports Deadline.
Avatar 4 co-writer Shane Salerno has acquired the rights to the franchise, which encompasses hundreds of books.
Pendleton wrote 38 volumes in 11 years before selling the rights to Worldwide Library.
He supervised a group of ghost writers who generated two books per month when the series was at its peak. Publisher Gold Eagle still publishes 12 new books every year.
Steve McQueen, Sylvester Stallone, Vin Diesel and Clint Eastwood have all been attached to Mack Bolan adaptations in the past, none of which made it to the screen.
Cooper is currently voicing Rocket Raccoon in Marvel Studios' hit Guardians of the Galaxy.
He will produce Mack Bolan with...
Cooper's Hangover director Todd Phillips is being lined up to direct the film based on Don Pendleton's anti-terrorism series, reports Deadline.
Avatar 4 co-writer Shane Salerno has acquired the rights to the franchise, which encompasses hundreds of books.
Pendleton wrote 38 volumes in 11 years before selling the rights to Worldwide Library.
He supervised a group of ghost writers who generated two books per month when the series was at its peak. Publisher Gold Eagle still publishes 12 new books every year.
Steve McQueen, Sylvester Stallone, Vin Diesel and Clint Eastwood have all been attached to Mack Bolan adaptations in the past, none of which made it to the screen.
Cooper is currently voicing Rocket Raccoon in Marvel Studios' hit Guardians of the Galaxy.
He will produce Mack Bolan with...
- 8/19/2014
- Digital Spy
Just days ago the news broke that Avatar writer Shane Salerno had bought the rights to the Mack Bolan books and was hoping to recruit a director and star to sell the whole package to a major studio. Well, he clearly works fast, because Warner Bros has snapped up the lot with producing partners Bradley Cooper and Todd Phillips aboard to potentially star and direct, respectively.The books, of which there are over 600 written over 45 years, follow a Vietnam Green Beret and sniper expert who declares war on the Mafia on his return home, after finding that they have torn his family apart. Originally created by Don Pendleton, he's a ludicrously heroic man of action, a sort of American James Bond, with the emphasis more on military know-how than spying skills. The books have gradually moved away from that aging Vietnam origin, however, so expect any film to do the...
- 8/19/2014
- EmpireOnline
Currently on the big screen as the voice of Rocket in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, Bradley Cooper has lined up a new potential franchise in Mack Bolan. Cooper is set to headline a feature film based on the Don Pendleton character and, according to a story today at Deadline, he's going to be re-teaming with his The Hangover trilogy director Todd Phillips to do it.
- 8/19/2014
- Comingsoon.net
For the second time in one week, Warner Bros. has shelled out big bucks for a project that will be produced by its “Hangover” duo Todd Phillips and Bradley Cooper, as the studio has made a pre-emptive deal for Don Pendleton's popular Mack Bolan book series, multiple individuals familiar with the situation have told TheWrap. Cooper and Phillips will produce the film through their new Warner Bros.-based production company and it will be developed as a possible directing vehicle for Phillips, who has been looking to showcase his skills outside the comedy genre for the last several years.
- 8/19/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
It was revealed last week that "Avatar 4" screenwriter Shane Salerno had picked up the film rights to Don Pendleton's prolific book series about elite anti-terrorist operative Mack Bolan.
Now, he's made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures which will see the project be developed as a starring vehicle for Bradley Cooper to play Bolan and Cooper's "The Hangover" series director Todd Phillips to helm.
The book series launched 45 years ago with Pendleton penning thirty-eight volumes in just over a decade. Since then ghost writers have taken over the run and the company still publishes a new title monthly with around nine hundred books released and more than 200 million copies in circulation. There's even four series of spin-off books in release.
The aim is to make a "relevant, grounded and gritty, real-world PG-13 action-drama film series" with the groundwork for a trilogy laid out. Both Cooper and Phillips will...
Now, he's made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures which will see the project be developed as a starring vehicle for Bradley Cooper to play Bolan and Cooper's "The Hangover" series director Todd Phillips to helm.
The book series launched 45 years ago with Pendleton penning thirty-eight volumes in just over a decade. Since then ghost writers have taken over the run and the company still publishes a new title monthly with around nine hundred books released and more than 200 million copies in circulation. There's even four series of spin-off books in release.
The aim is to make a "relevant, grounded and gritty, real-world PG-13 action-drama film series" with the groundwork for a trilogy laid out. Both Cooper and Phillips will...
- 8/19/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Exclusive: In a pre-emptive deal worth multiple seven-figures for the package, Warner Bros has acquired the Don Pendleton anti-terrorist operative Mack Bolan novel series and will develop it as a star vehicle for Bradley Cooper to potentially play Bolan, and Todd Phillips to potentially direct him. Avatar 4 co-writer Shane Salerno – who acquired the rights to the franchise from Pendleton’s estate — will write the script and produce along with Cooper and Phillips, who earlier this year joined forces and formed a Warner Bros-based producing label. It potentially could be the first action franchise for Cooper, who bulked up to play Navy Seal Chris Kyle in American Sniper, directed by Clint Eastwood for Warner Bros. Phillips is next directing Arms And The Dudes, about hapless guys who become arms dealers.
Related: After 40 Years Of Trying With McQueen, Stallone, Eastwood, Reynolds And Vin Diesel, Mack Bolan Pic Is Back
Considering how...
Related: After 40 Years Of Trying With McQueen, Stallone, Eastwood, Reynolds And Vin Diesel, Mack Bolan Pic Is Back
Considering how...
- 8/19/2014
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline
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