Matilda Lutz is playing the new Red Sonja as Millennium Media has announced filming has started on the flick which is inspired by the Dynamite Entertainment comic books and the Robert E. Howard-created character for Marvel.
It was previously reported that Hannah John-Kamen was signing on for the role, but it has subsequently been stated she dropped out.
Additional casting includes Robert Sheehan from Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy as Draygan, and Wallis Day of Sex/Life is playing Red Sonja’s wicked half-sister, Annisia.
Lutz, born in Italy and schooled in NYC and Milan, is known for Revenge, Starz and David S. Goyer’s Medici, and They Were Ten, and Briganti.
“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,” said the director M.J. Bassett (Solomon Kane). “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.”
Red Sonja has been a long journey
“This has been a long journey from script to screen and we are excited to go into production after assembling the best creative team, an amazing band of up-and-coming talent and a fun and fantastical world fueled by the Red Sonja IP. 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,” Millennium Media’s President, Jeffrey Greenstein added.
“I’ve been working with the Millennium production team on adapting this extraordinary graphic novel since Luke Lieberman brought it to us seven years ago,” said producer Marc Canton. “M.J. is a fantastic filmmaker who truly understands the power of this story that will ignite audiences everywhere. In the realm of fantasy and graphic novels, there is no greater, more empowered female character who has stood the test of time. Courtney Solomon and I are privileged to be a part of this fabulous producing team.”
Red Sonja is currently filming in Bulgarian Nu Boyana Studio, with filming at the Greek Nu Boyana Studio to follow.
Additional casting includes Michael Bisping as Hawk, Martyn Ford as General Karlak, Eliza Matengu as Amarak, Manal El Feitury as Ayala, and Katrina Durden as Saevus.
Brigitte Nielsen played the character in the 1985 movie along with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Kalidor.
