A couple weeks ago, we learned that a new take on Red Sonja had gone into production – after spending decades in development hell – with Matilda Lutz (Revenge) in the title role. Deadline reports that Lutz is joined in the cast by Oliver Trevena, who has experience wielding a sword thanks to his role in the 2019 film The Rising Hawk. Trevena is taking on the role of Tr’aal, “a gladiator-type warrior who joins Sonja in her fight against an evil emperor”.
M.J. Bassett (Solomon Kane) is directing Red Sonja from a screenplay by Joey Soloway (Transparent) and Tasha Huo (Netflix’s Tomb Raider anime). This version of Red Sonja is derived from the sword and sorcery comic books by Dynamite Entertainment, based on the character created by Robert E. Howard and adapted by Roy Thomas. Details on the plot are being kept under wraps. All we know is that Sonja is “a fearsome warrior boasting a high degree of skill with a sword”, and – going by the description of Trevena’s character – is apparently going to be battling an evil emperor.
Lutz and Trevena are joined in the cast by Wallis Day (Sex/Life) as Annisia, Robert Sheehan (The Umbrella Academy) as Draygan, Michael Bisping (xXx: Return of Xander Cage) as Hawk, Martyn Ford (F9: The Fast Saga) as General Karlak, Eliza Matengu (Thor: Love and Thunder) as Amarak, Manal El Feitury (Code Red) as Ayala, and Katrina Durden (Doctor Strange) as Saevus.
Red Sonja is being produced by Jeffrey Greenstein, Mark Canton, Courtney Solomon, Christa Campbell, Lati Grobman, Andrea Sperling, Yariv Lerner, Jonathan Yunger, Les Weldon, Joe Gatta, and Tanner Mobley. Avi Lerner, Boaz Davidson, Trevor Short, Luke Lieberman, Nick Barrucci, and Dorothy Canton serve as executive producers.
Bassett provided the following statement:
I’ve wanted to make a Red Sonja movie since I was a teenager – she has been a powerful presence for me and a character that I have always wanted to bring to the screen with my own voice and vision. When I met Matilda Lutz, I knew she had all the magic I was looking for and could see the complexity and depth she would bring to Sonja.”
In addition to The Rising Hawk, Trevena’s credits include Wire Room, While We Sleep, Out of Death, Paradise City, Embattled, The Reckoning, Grand Isle, and The Angel.
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Here’s a shot of Trevena in The Rising Hawk:
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