Release Date: June 27, 2008
Cast: James McAvoy as Wesley Gibson, Morgan Freeman as Sloan, Angelina Jolie as Fox, Common as Gunsmith, Kristen Hager, Terence Stamp
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Screen Writer(s): Michael Brandt and Derek Haas
Official Site: http://www.wantedmovie.com/
Trailers: Trailer #1
Superbowl TV Spot
Trailer #2
Status: In Production
Pictures: Click here to view the photo gallery!
Synopsis/Plot:

25-year-old account manager Wes (James McAvoy) was the most pathetic, cube-dwelling hypochondriac the planet had ever known. His boss chewed him out hourly, his girlfriend cheated on him daily and his life plodded on interminably. Everyone was certain this weakling would never amount to anything. There was little else for Wes to do but wile away the days and die a slow, clock-punching death. Until he became Wanted. After the murder of a father he never knew, Wes discovers powers beyond his dreams. He becomes the latest recruit in the Fraternity--a secret society of assassins--and develops lightning-quick reflexes with superhuman agility. Wes soon learns his league of henchmen has but one mission: carry out the death orders of the mythological Fates, weavers of every man's lifeline. With wickedly brilliant tutors, he morphs into a killing machine and starts erasing one bad guy after another. But as Wes grows into the mantle passed down by his father...he discovers his clan members are not exactly the enforcers of justice they claim to be. Just as he gets everything he ever Wanted, Wesley Gibson will learn that with the ability to deliver death comes an even more difficult power...controlling your own life.



News and Rumors:

May 28, 2008: The official site has expanded. Check it out here!

April 23, 2008: Check out the new Wanted poster, that was revealed at the NYCC, in our CBM Gallery!

March 6, 2008: Universal Pictures has released a brand new trailer. You can check it out below or hit MySpacetv.com for a High Definition version.

February 3, 2008: The Superbowl TV Spot is now online: Check it out here via Yahoo Movies!

December 6, 2007: Universal Pictures has moved the release date of its hotly anticipated fantasy-action-thriller Wanted from spring to summer. The film will now be released on Friday, June 27, rather than its former release date of March 28.

October 31, 2007: Universal Pictures has released the official trailer of Wanted, starring James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman. Plus, the official site is online. Plus, check out our Image Gallery! Could you want anymore?!

June 21, 2007: Terence Stamp has joined the cast of Universal's Wanted, directed by Timur Bekmambetov. No word on who he will play, but the assumptions is that he will play the Father figure.

June 13, 2007: Director Timur Bekmambetov ("Night Watch," "Day Watch") is currently working on the comic adaptation "Wanted" and revealed some surprising details about the project. The Mark Miller comic followed an ordinary office worker who discovers that he's actually the son of one of the greatest supervillains that ever lived, and now that his father is dead he must take his place. Bekmambetov however revealed to MTV News that some definite changes are in order for the story - namely that the supervillain group whom he and his father belong to will now have a more mystical quality: "He soon finds himself carrying out the death orders of the Fates, literal weavers of every human's lifeline...We built a huge textile factory in Prague. The production designer, John Myhre, built this huge set and we've created a mythology in this world of weavers. The hero will discover the whole world. It looks ordinary, but it's not. It's an industrial world filled with weaving machines, lots of traps, lot of looms flying back and forth and predicting the future. The looms weave these fabrics, and the fabrics have a pattern, like a binary code, that has information. The weavers can read the fabric - they see the structure of it and they can read its messages. Then they know who has to be killed to keep the balance of the world." Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy star in the film which is due out late next year.

May 14, 2007: Kristen Hager (The CW's "Runaway") has landed a supporting role in Universal's Wanted, reports Variety. Based on Mark Millar's graphic novel, the story centers on a white-collar worker who discovers he's the son of a supervillain -- then inherits evil powers when his father is killed. Thanks to 'Superherohype' for the news!

May 9, 2007: Hip-hop star Common has signed to join James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie in Wanted for Universal Pictures. Wanted, based on Mark Millar's graphic novel, centers on a white-collar worker (McAvoy) who discovers he is the son of the most evil supervillain on Earth. When his father is assassinated, he inherits the dead man's powers and begins life among the other supervillains (Freeman, Jolie and Common) who secretly control the planet. Common will play the Gunsmith, an assassin with an unparalleled knowledge of firearms who is enlisted to help train and transform McAvoy's character into the world's most feared and powerful hit man. Timur Bekmambetov is directing from a script by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas. Marc Platt, Jim Lemley and Jason Netter are producing.

March 22, 2007: Universal Pictures has set Angelina Jolie to star alongside James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman in Wanted, the graphic novel adaptation to be directed by Timur Bekmambetov. The movie will be Jolie's next, with shooting to begin in Eastern Europe in May. McAvoy will play a young man who discovers his father is an assassin, only to learn shortly thereafter that his dad has been murdered. The youth is drafted to follow in his father's footsteps. Jolie will play an assassin who teaches the ropes to the wannabe killer. The script was originated by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, and Jolie took the role after a rewrite by Dean Georgaris (Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life) to tailor the character for her. Marc Platt, Jim Lemley, Jason Netter and Iain Smith will produce. - Thanks to 'Superherohype' for the news!

February 13, 2007: From Czech Film Commission: "The Universal Pictures' action movie Wanted is another major production hosted by the Czech Republic and the local co-producer Stillking Films (www.stillking.com), directed by the Moscow based Timur Bekmambetov, who is also known for his international sensations Nightwatch and Daywatch, two of the biggest grossing films ever in Russia. Wanted begins shooting in April for 12 weeks, starring Morgan Freeman and James McEvoy." In related news, Comingsoon.net reports that the film will be released March 28th, 2008.

November 8, 2006: Morgan Freeman is in final talks to star opposite James McAvoy in Universal Pictures' Wanted, a sci-fi actioner that will mark the English-language debut of Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov. Freeman will play Sloan, the lead assassin who trains McAvoy. -Thanks to 'Superherohype' for the heads up!

November 4, 2006: ComingSoon.net has posted the official synopsis for Universal's adaptation of Mark Millar's Wanted, starring James McAvoy, and it goes something like this:

Based upon Mark Millar's explosive graphic novel series and helmed by the stunning visualist director Timur Bekmambetov--creator of the most successful Russian film franchise in history, the "Night Watch" series--"Wanted" tells the story of one invisible drone's transformation into a dark avenger. In 2008, the world will be introduced to a superhero for a new millennium: Wesley Gibson. 25-year-old account manager Wes (James McAvoy) was the most pathetic, cube-dwelling hypochondriac the planet had ever known. His boss chewed him out hourly, his girlfriend cheated on him daily and his life plodded on interminably. Everyone was certain this weakling would never amount to anything. There was little else for Wes to do but wile away the days and die a slow, clock-punching death. Until he became Wanted. After the murder of a father he never knew, Wes discovers powers beyond his dreams. He becomes the latest recruit in the Fraternity--a secret society of assassins--and develops lightning-quick reflexes with superhuman agility. Wes soon learns his league of henchmen has but one mission: carry out the death orders of the mythological Fates, weavers of every man's lifeline. With wickedly brilliant tutors, he morphs into a killing machine and starts erasing one bad guy after another. But as Wes grows into the mantle passed down by his father...he discovers his clan members are not exactly the enforcers of justice they claim to be. Just as he gets everything he ever Wanted, Wesley Gibson will learn that with the ability to deliver death comes an even more difficult power...controlling your own life.

August 19, 2006: James McAvoy has landed the starring role in Universal Pictures' Wanted, a sci-fi actioner that will mark the English-language debut of Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov, says The Hollywood Reporter. Wanted is based on a comic book series by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones published by Top Cow. The story follows a put-upon young man who discovers that his long-lost father is an assassin. After his dad is murdered, the son is recruited into a covert organization of killers and trained to follow in his father's footsteps. The comic is considered hard-core, and the movie probably will be rated R. Universal-based Marc Platt set up the series in March 2004 and will produce with Jason Netter and Jim Lemley. Top Cow's Marc Silvestri is executive producing. The script was written by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, who wrote Universal's "2 Fast 2 Furious." The trade says the movie is a priority for the studio and is anticipated to go into production in first-quarter 2007 with a budget of less than $100 million.

December 9, 2005: Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch) has signed a deal to direct his first English-language film, Universal Pictures' Wanted. Wanted is based on the comic book series by Mark Millar. Marc Platt set up the series with Univeral last year and will produce with Jason Netter and Jim Lemley, with Marc Silvestri executive producing. The protagonist in Wanted is a nebbishy white-collar worker who discovers his father is the world's most evil supervillain. After his dad is murdered, the son is recruited into a covert organization and trained to take up his father's legacy. The script was written by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt (2 Fast 2 Furious), who are currently adapting Tom Clancy's Red Rabbit for Paramount.

May 4, 2004: From ComicBookResources News: "Talking about "Wanted," the recent issue of Wizard had Mark Millar give a run down on who he'd like to see play the main characters in a movie of "Wanted." Funnily enough for Wesley Gibson, he cast Colin Farrell. As opposed to Eminem, who JG Jones was instructed to model Wesley on, and who Millar told his agent to tell the media had signed on to play the character in order to drum up some publicity for the comic (which worked) and helped make the actual film option happen. So why choose Colin Farrell now? Well, Eminem's people are rather annoyed with Mark Millar right now, and are very aware of the media trickery he played using Eminem's stature to further his ends. And Millar doesn't want to push it." Thanks to CountingDown.com and 'the punisher' for the heads up!

May 3, 2004: Mark Millar, author of the new comic 'Wanted', which is currently being adapted as a major motion picture by Universal Studios, sat down with Wizard Magazine to list his own dream cast for the film: here's the rundown, but keep in mind, these aren't official casting announcements, just who Millar would like to see in the parts. For morally bankrupt protagonist Wesley Gibbs (aka The Killer), Millar would want Colin Farrell (S.W.A.T.); in the role of the sexy catwoman-esque villainess The Fox, Millar would pick Jada Pinkett Smith (The Matrix Trilogy); for the devious criminal mastermind The Professor, William H. Macy (Seabiscuit); as the morbid and terrifying Mister Rictus, John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich). And last but not least, for Wesley Gibbs' father, aka the original Killer, Millar would like to see Robert DeNiro (Godsend). Here's what Millar has to say on that particular pick: "Gangland assassin whose best years are behind him? This could ONLY be DeNiro," says Millar. "In fact, I like this idea so much I'm going to bug Universal about it today. Naturally, they'll ignore me, but this seems like a weighty call." Thanks to 'the punisher' for sending this in!

March 30, 2004: Variety reports that Universal Pictures is in talks with "2 Fast 2 Furious" writing duo Michael Brandt and Derek Haas to adapt the recently acquired comic book property Wanted. Earlier this month, Marc Platt Productions bought rights to Mark Millar's dark tale about an angry young man who discovers that he's the son of the most powerful supervillain on Earth. The writers are also developing a remake of "An Honest Tradesman" for Focus Features. They will pen the adaptation of the Belgian cop tale, with Haas set to direct and Brandt to produce. Thanks to superherohype.com for the heads up!

March 13, 2004: Variety reports that Universal Pictures has acquired the rights to comics writer Mark Millar's Wanted series for Marc Platt to produce. "Wanted" is a title that Millar wrote and independently published through his own Millarworld imprint and Top Cow distributor. Millar will exec produce along with Kickstart's Jason Netter and Top Cow's Marc Silvestri. Platt is seeking a writer to bring on to the project. "Wanted" is a dark tale with a dearth of good guys. A nebbishy white-collar worker who hates job, girlfriend and life discovers he's the son of the most evil supervillain on Earth. When Dad is assassinated, the angry young man inherits his father's superpowers and starts life among the other super-villains who secretly control the planet. Also, while London's Daily Star claimed Eminem was in talks to play the lead role, the trade says that both the rapper's representatives and Universal says that's not true. He is not in talks for the role either.