Geoff Johns is back in the film business.
Atlas Entertainment and Geoff Johns’ Ghost Machine comic book publishing company are officially turning Johns’ Redcoat comic series into a feature film.
Deadline reports the adaptation is moving forward with Johns scripting the movie based on a story he developed with artist Bryan Hitch.
Redcoat launched in April 2024 and instantly sold out, becoming one of Ghost Machine’s early breakout hits through Image Comics.
Johns, Roven, and Ghost Machine Push the IP Strategy Forward
Charles Roven and Alex Gartner are producing for Atlas Entertainment, with Roven praising Johns and Hitch as a standout creative team.
The story follows Simon Pure, a British deserter who accidentally becomes immortal during the American Revolution and ends up battling a conspiracy set on destroying America. The tone is described as big, pulpy historical action similar to Pirates of the Caribbean or Indiana Jones.
Gartner highlighted Pure as a strong character that can anchor a franchise, calling him funny, charismatic, and roguish — the kind of personality designed to lead an ongoing film series.
Atlas Is Deep in the Ghost Machine Business
What Deadline didn’t mention is that Atlas Entertainment is an investor in Ghost Machine. So it’s not surprising the company is fast-tracking a film adaptation of Redcoat.
That was the entire point of launching Ghost Machine’s comics line: create creator-owned IP and immediately build a pipeline from comics to film and TV with full ownership intact.
Ghost Machine, founded in 2023, has positioned itself as the first creator-owned multimedia universe. In addition to Redcoat, Johns’ titles include Geiger and Rook: Exodus, all developed with the intention of becoming cross-platform franchises.
The Geoff Johns and Charles Roven Connection
Geoff Johns and Charles Roven already have a long history together from their time shaping DC projects.
Johns spent years as one of DC Comics’ top writers and later moved into film, serving as a producer and creative lead on movies like Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the early stages of the DC Extended Universe.
Roven was one of the key producers across the DC film slate for more than a decade, overseeing projects from The Dark Knight Trilogy to Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and Suicide Squad.
Johns and Roven both produced the theatrical release of Justice League and Wonder Woman 1984.
