Cedric Nicolas-Troyan is set to helm a big screen version of the 2012 French graphic novel 'Naja', a co-production between Thunder Road Pictures, Nickel City Productions and Entertainment 360. The film deal was handled by Laurent Duvault (Mediatoon-Dargaud, who also published the original book), alongside Jim Ehrich (the Rothman & Brecher Agency) and Tal O. Vidgerson. This will be Nicolas-Troyan's second feature film, after having served as a special effects artist and second unit director of films like Maleficent (2014) and the original Snow White & The Huntsman (2012), before directing the latter's sequel.
Darguad originally published the popular action comic in France, with Magnetic Press handling the U.S. release.
'Naja', written by Jean-David Morvan and illustrated by artist Bengal, focuses on a beautiful female assassin who cannot, in any way, feel pain. Her life is soon turned upside down when she has a contract put out on her, and must battle assorted hitmen and killers. The book has been likened to recent action films like 'John Wick' and 'Lucy' (both from 2014), as well as the highly influential French thriller 'Le Femme Nikita' (1990).
Nicolas-Troyan, himself a Frenchman, will direct, with actor-writer J.P. Davis (Fighting Tommy Riley, The Neighbor) writing the screenplay.
Naja is the latest in a series of European comics, mostly of Belgian and French origin, to be turned into films.
This follows on from 'Dylan Dog: Dead of Night' (2011), 'The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of The Unicorn' (2011), as well as the Luc Besson films 'The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec' (2011), and the upcoming 'Valerian and The City Of A Thousand Planets' (2017). There were also plans for a 'Blake & Mortimer' film, to be helmed by Spanish director Alex De La Iglesia, but no news has surfaced since 2010.
Duvalt has also sold the rights to another graphic novel property, the fantasy epic 'Thorgal', created by Jean Van Hamme (Blake & Mortimer), to Pergamon Films. It is now being being developed for Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (The Tourist).
