Badlands, a genre-focused division of Thunder Road, has secured the rights to a new screenplay titled Wildman. The upcoming project, written by Jacob Rainer, envisions a revenge-driven Bigfoot story inspired by the high-octane style of the John Wick franchise.
Jacob Rainer’s journey from ScriptShadow to Badlands
The screenplay for Wildman began its life in the Blood and Ink contest hosted by the ScriptShadow platform. According to the report , Carson Reeves of ScriptShadow was initially intrigued by the work, which eventually reached Jake Wagner at Alibi Entertainment. This chain of interest led Wagner to contact Rainer, ulimately securing a deal with Badlands,the genre-focused arm of Thunder Road.
This acquisition represents a massive milestone for Rainer, as it serves as his first professional screenwriting contract. By moving from a screenplay contest to a major production entity, the project has already bypassed the typical hurdles faced by emerging writers.
How 'gun fu' might power a Bigfoot revenge tale
The creative DNA of Wildman appears to be rooted in the "gun fu" style that revolutionized action cinema in 2014 with the release of John Wick. This specific blend of martial arts and firearm proficiency has been echoed in films like Atomic Blonde, Nobody, and Extraction. Even recent hits like Violent Night owe a debt to this high-velocity choreography.
By applying this kinetic energy to a Bigfoot-centric narrative, the project attempts to bridge the gap between intense action and creature horror, potentially following in the footsteps of recent genre successes like Prey or Alien: Romulus. If the film successfully balances its horror elements with its action sequences , it could pioneer a new sub-genre of Wick-inspired creature features, creating a distinct space for films that combine high-stakes survival with stylized, rhythmic combat.
Badlands' upcoming slate including October's 'Crawlers'
Badlands is currently positioning itself as a significant new player in the genre film market. The studio is working toward the U.S. release of its debut feature, Crawlers, which is slated for October 16. As a specialized division of the production powerhouse Thunder Road,Badlands is leveraging the momentum of the John Wick franchise to build a robust slate of high-concept genre films.
The search for a director and lead cast for Wildman
While the premise has generated significant interest, several vital components of the production remain unverified. The report notes that Wildman is still in the early stages of development and currently lacks a confirmed release date, a director, or any principal cast members. although Carson Reeves is officially attached to produce, the studio has yet to announce who will bring the revenge-seeking cryptid to life on screen.
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