The rumors have been confirmed as Deadline reports director Robert Schwentke has officially signed on to R.I.P.D. for Universal Pictures. It is an action film with a supernatural twist starring Ryan Reynolds (Buried, The Green Lantern). Schwentke has previously directed Flightplan and The Time Traveler’s Wife. R.I.P.D. is adapted by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi (Clash of the Titans, Aeon Flux).
Written by Peter Lenkov (24, Demolition Man) and released in 2000 by Dark Horse, R.I.P.D. tells the story of the Rest In Peace Department, the afterlife’s arm of the law. The central character of the comic book is Nick Cruz, a recently-murdered police officer who has joined the R.I.P.D. to find out the identity of his killer and make his way into heaven. Unfortunately that isn’t so straightforward and Cruz finds himself with a jaded ex-gunslinger for a partner while working for the man upstairs, pursuing all kinds of demonic creatures.
I have yet to read the comic, but it definitely sounds like a solid blockbuster for Reynolds. I liked Flightplan and looking for to Schwentke’s next film Red. The action flick hits theaters in October and stars Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich.
Do you think Schwentke is a good fit for R.I.P.D.?