Zimbabwean writer and graphic artist, Bill Masuku's graphic novel, Razorman, is set to get a live-action feature.
According to Deadline, the Zimbabwe-set superhero project will be brought to life by the filmmakers behind Netflix’s Heart of the Hunter and Disney’s Iwájú, and producers Kugali Media, former CAA agent David Neumann’s Newmation, and Alta Global Media.
The project will be centred on Lovemore, "a scrappy young mechanic in Harare who assumes the identity of the street vigilante known as Razorman. Armed with razor-sharp wit and makeshift weapons, he wages a dangerous one-man war against The Thirteenth — a ruthless and well-connected crime syndicate responsible for his father’s mysterious murder."
"The first issue of RAZORMAN came out in April 2016, at the time the African comic book space was microscopic. I was unsure of who would be interested in locally made stories, but it sold out! A decade later with far more comic conventions, a rise in African speculative fiction, and Kugali Media going above and beyond in storytelling this announcement feels like more than a full circle moment," shared Masuku in a post.
"Excitement doesn't begin to cover what I'm feeling, but gratitude in everyone who supported the graphic novel does.
Thank you and watch this space!"
As reported by Deadline, the team sees a franchise potential in the IP, and the film will draw stylistically from dark, character-driven action-hero comics such as V for Vendetta and Spawn.
As reported by Deadline, the team sees a franchise potential in the IP, and the film will draw stylistically from dark, character-driven action-hero comics such as V for Vendetta and Spawn.
Bill Masuku has been active in the comic book industry since 2016. The award-winning Zimbabwean comic book artist and writer, created Runeless for Disney Hyperion through the Kugali Ink imprint, self-published Captain South Africa, and had his afromanga Tokoloshe Hunters published by Etan Comics.
Masuku has worked as a storyboard artist for Triggerfish on a Netflix project and Disney x Kugali's 3-time Emmy Award-nominated animated series Iwájú.
In 2020, Masuku was spotlighted as an up-and-coming artist during DC Comics’ global event DC Fandome, then 2 years later he was featured in Forbes Africa 30 Under 30. He was also selected for the Creation Africa FOCUS in France, supported by the Institut Français, among 15 other comic book artists across Africa.