Pearl Street partners backing comic adaptation…
Variety has learned that the feature adaptation of DC Comics’ critically acclaimed graphic novel series ‘Sleeper’ has attracted the attention of Pearl Street Films partners Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Jennifer Todd.
The series, written by Ed Brubaker with art by Sean Phillips, tells the story of Holden Carver, a covert operative whose fusion with an alien artefact makes him impervious to pain and allows him to pass it on to others through skin contact. Carver is assigned to infiltrate the criminal empire of an international terrorist called Tao, but his allegiances come into question when he falls for a member of the group, the alluring criminal mastermind known as Miss Misery. The series featured characters from DC’s ‘WildC.A.T.s’ and ‘Gen 13.’
‘Sleeper’ is set up over at Warner Bros. with Shawn Ryan (‘The Shield’) and David Wiener (‘The Killing’) tackling the screenplay. The studio has been working on the adaptation since 2008, and at one point had Sam Raimi and Josh Donen producing, with Tom Cruise eyed for the lead.