Remember the 1983 sword and sorcery film Deathstalker? Produced by Roger Corman, the low budget movie was a hit in theaters and went on to become a cult classic through home video and TV airings, and it was followed by three sequels released between 1987 and 1991.
Decades later, Deathstalker will return with a brand new remake movie! Read on for everything you need to know and check out an exclusive behind the scenes sneak peek above!
Bloody Disgusting has learned that director Steven Kostanski (The Void, PG: Psycho Goreman) is bringing the Deathstalker saga back to life, with Daniel Bernhardt (John Wick, Nobody, Barry) attached to star as the titular Deathstalker in what’s being described as “a newly reimagined installment of the cult sword and sorcery series of the same name.”
Written by and to be directed by Kostanski, Bernhardt will portray the barbarian who finds himself cursed by a magical talisman that draws him into conflict with a malevolent wizard and a clan of monstrous assassins. Production is slated to begin in Canada late April 2024.
The original films were produced by Roger Corman throughout the 1980s and capitalized on the popularity of John Milius’ Conan the Barbarian with a similar collision of pulp fantasy and lurid excess. Kostanski’s new vision promises a greater emphasis on exploring the series’ fantasy setting and filling it with monsters that will be largely realized through the director’s signature combination of creature suits, prosthetic FX make-up, and stop-motion animation. These effects are courtesy of the director’s newly minted Action Pants FX shop, which recently completed work on Kostanski’s upcoming horror-comedy Frankie Freako.
“The Deathstalker universe is such a fun sandbox to play in,” said Steven Kostanski, “Every installment has played so fast and loose with its lore, which means that there’s no limit to my imagination when it comes to what I can pit Deathstalker against.”
“I am thrilled to be working with Steven. I love this genre, and what Steven has been making in his creature shop is mind-blowing. I am so excited to do battle as a Deathstalker who is more of a grizzled war veteran in this story,” added Bernhardt.
In advance of the film, Deathstalker will be returning in an all-new comic book series from Vault Comics. Writer Tim Seeley and artist Jim Terry have worked closely with Kostanski and Slash of Guns N’ Roses fame to create a tale of Deathstalker that bridges the original movies and Kostanski’s new film. Deathstalker #1 will be in stores in April.
A Kickstarter campaign also pre-launched March 1 to directly support Action Pants’ work on Deathstalker, and provide fans an opportunity to purchase memorabilia from the film, as well as exclusive merchandise including a new poster illustrated by Boris Vallejo, the artist responsible for the iconic poster art of the Deathstalker films since the 1983 original.
The campaign goes live March 8 and will run until April 1.
Deathstalker is being produced by Hangar 18 Media with Pasha Patriki, Avi Federgreen, and Michael Pazst producing, with Executive Producers Andrew Thomas Hunt, James Fler, Josh Viola, and Peter Kuplowsky, alongside Slash and Rodrigo Gudiño of Berserkergang Films, with Associate Producer Scott Weatherall and Co-Producer Melissa A. Smith.
Raven Banner is handling international sales and Canadian distribution.
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