Studio71 US, Universal TV and Kickstart have inked a development deal with NBC for Blacksmith, a drama based on Kickstart’s Blacksmith graphic novels by Malik Evans and Richard Sparkman.
Written by feature writer-director Jeff Wadlow (Truth or Dare), Blacksmith is centered on Alex Malloy, known in the intelligence community for building high-tech weapons for US government agencies. When he discovers that some of the files containing his weapon designs have fallen into the wrong hands, he sets off on a journey to recover the files before his weapons are used for harm.
Wadlow executive produces with Studio 71 US President of Scripted Content Michael Schreiber, along with Jon Shestack, Jeremy Stein, Bob Sobhani and Samantha Shear. Jason Netter also executive produces and oversees development for Kickstart.
Wadlow most recently co-wrote, directed and executive produced Blumhouse horror thriller Truth or Dare. He’s next set to direct Fantasy Island, based on the Aaron Spelling series, which ran from 1977-84 for Blumhouse and Sony Pictures. His comic books adaptation experience includes the feature Kick-Ass 2, which he wrote and directed. In TV, Wadlow served as co-executive producer on The Strain and consulting producer on Bates Motel, among other credits. He is repped by UTA, Artists First and Hirsch Wallerstein.