A movie about hired killers pitted against each other in deathmatches? Sign me up. Matt Cook has been hired by Dreamworks to adapt the Button Man comics by John Wagner, according to Deadline. The comic book series, which is collected in four volumes and originated in the British comic 2000 A.D. (alongside Judge Dredd), tells the story of hired killer (i.e. a “button man”) who participates in underground deathmatches against other hired killers, each represented by a mysterious and unknown wealthy man only known as the “Voice.” Exton eventually decides to leave this bloodsport behind but unfortunately for him it’s not as simple as just handing in your resignation and moving on with your life.
The movie is said to be based on the first collection known as The Killing Game and given that there are three other volumes after this could lead into a franchise if enough money is made. Cook, a Black List screenwriter whose 2009 script By Way of Helena is being made into a feature film by Mandeville Films, is the latest screenwriter to take a stab at the Button Man adaptation; writers Harry Seitz and Barry Levy were previously hired by Dreamworks for the project and submitted their own versions. The Button Man movie is set to be directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (of Drive fame), should the whole screenplay situation ever work out. And since Refn is slated to be in the director’s chair I like many of you hope everything comes together as soon as humanly possible.
Have you read any of the Button Man comics? Are they worth checking out before the movie?