Back in Action: Lethal Weapon Legends Shane Black and Joel Silver Reunite for The Executioner Adaptation
Sony Pictures pulls the trigger on Don Pendelton’s The Executioner, aiming to ignite a hard-hitting action-thriller franchise at last.
Looks like we might finally be getting the Mack Bolan movie nobody in Hollywood could pull off for the last 40 years. Yes, the team that gave us 'Lethal Weapon'—writer/director Shane Black and producer Joel Silver—are dusting off Don Pendleton's long-running, bullet-ridden pulpy series, 'The Executioner.' And if the studio hype is to be believed, this new franchise could be muscling into Jack Reacher's territory (and then picking a fight with him at the bar).
The Classic Action Guy You Never Saw on Screen
For those who actually missed the paperback era, Mack Bolan—a.k.a. The Executioner—basically wrote the blueprint for the lone-wolf vigilante genre. He made his debut in 1969’s 'War Against the Mafia,' where he starts tearing through organized crime after his family is killed by the mob. Think Equalizer, think Punisher (Frank Castle’s entire vibe is basically borrowed straight from Bolan), and sprinkle in Reacher’s wandering justice. For whatever reason, Mack Bolan managed to miss the 80s/90s studio adaptation boom completely, stuck in development hell while way quirkier stuff made it to screen.
Here’s the Meat and Potatoes
- Shane Black ('The Nice Guys', 'Iron Man 3', 'Lethal Weapon') is writing and directing. He’s joined by his go-to script buddies Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry (these guys know their way around a genre punch-up).
- Joel Silver is producing—big news if you like your action stories with actual mayhem, not just squibs. Don Murphy and Susan Montford from Angry Films are also on board; they’re the ones who finally sorted out years’ worth of messy adaptation rights.
- Sony Pictures picked up the package, describing it (in classic studio style) as 'testosterone-fueled.' If you’ve ever seen a Shane Black Christmas movie, you know what you’re in for.
- The Executioner might be the single longest-running action paperback series ever. After Don Pendleton's original run, he licensed the character out. Result: 464(!) novels. Between mobsters, terrorists, Nazis—the works—there’s no shortage of gunfights Black and Silver can plunder for inspiration.
- Hollywood's been trying to crack this nut forever. William Friedkin (yes, 'The French Connection') tried in the 80s with Stallone as the would-be Bolan. Then Joel Silver made a go in the 90s. At some point, someone wanted Bradley Cooper for the role more recently. None of it stuck.
Big Promises, Big Shoes to Fill
The studio is apparently aiming high here. The entire setup is to make a hero 'who would make Jack Reacher think twice.' No pressure, Shane.
(Studio’s words, not mine—but you know exactly what they mean.)
If they actually pull this off—even just one installment that gets the tone right, instead of endless false starts and half-baked scripts—Mack Bolan could finally get the movie he probably deserved somewhere back in the VHS era. Keep an eye out: this is one of those projects that’s been 'in development' so long, finishing a script feels like a win.
So yes, this is a developing story. Would not be surprised if the casting rumors start within weeks (let the video essays and internet fancasts begin).