Gerard Butler’s Afterburn finally finds a director in Tommy Wirkola

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

It’s been nearly two and a half years since information was released about a proposed adaptation of the comic book AFTERBURN starring Gerard Butler, and in that time previously-attached director Antoine Fuqua has moved on and been replaced by Tommy Wirkola (DEAD SNOW).  Wirkola, also co-writer and director of the upcoming HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton, will rewrite the script for AFTERBURN.

A mini-series from Red 5 Comics, AFTERBURN “is set in a future where solar flares have left half the world a ravaged wasteland filled with mutants and pirates.  Buried beneath the ash and rubble are priceless artifacts and some of the world’s most valuable works of art — for which wealthy Americans will pay any price. The story centers on a treasure hunter who leads his team into the quarantine zone, braving rival bounty hunters, rogue armies, pirate gangs and deadly mutants along the way.”

Gerard Butler is set to play the aforementioned treasure hunter if his scheduling still works out, but if it doesn’t: considering Guy Pearce’s recent turn in LOCKOUT, who might be an unexpected-but-inspired choice to play the lead in AFTERBURN?

HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS comes out January 11th, 2013.  I’m going to try my very best to not to be very worried by that early January release date.