Steven De Souza and Gungnir founder and publisher Matthew Medney Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images; Tina Vonn Photography Logo text Steven E. de Souza, known for his screenwriting work on features like Die Hard and 48 Hrs., is set to continuing delving into the Sheena: Queen of the Jungle franchise with a new graphic novel deal.
Gungnir Books has signed a deal with de Souza for three graphic novels, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. This includes the new Sheena title Frostline, along with the two original graphic novels Earth Patrol Tonight! and Gulliver. De Souza previously rebooted the Sheena franchise with Galaxy Publishing for Dynamite Entertainment to explore the character who dates back to the 1930s.
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Frostline will take Sheena from the jungle to a frozen winter landscape in an action-horror story. Mixing action with humor, Earth Patrol Tonight! centers on the misguided group of astronauts behind Earth’s disastrous attempt at intergalactic conflict. Additionally, Gulliver is the working title for a dark reinterpretation of Jonathan Swift’s classic novel Gulliver’s Travels that leans into the elements of fantasy, science fiction and horror.
De Souza’s history with the graphic medium dates back to the writer adapting such projects as Judge Dredd for Sylvester Stallone’s big-screen take in 1995, along with adapting Cadillacs and Dinosaurs as a CBS animated series and his work on HBO’s Tales From the Crypt. The scribe’s expansive array of feature credits also include Commando, The Running Man, Die Hard and its 1990 sequel, The Flintstones, Beverly Hills Cop III, Street Fighter and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider — The Cradle of Life.
“Few creators have had the lasting impact on modern action storytelling that Steven de Souza has achieved over the course of his career,” says Gungnir founder and publisher Matthew Medney. “His work has entertained generations of audiences, and these new projects embody the bold, high-concept storytelling we’re committed to championing.”
Adds Galaxy Publishing CEO Gabriella Aratow, “We’ve seen different takes on our iconic character over the decades but Gungnir’s plans for Sheena are truly singular — and Matt’s inclusion of us in the planning and execution exceed any we’ve had from partners in the past. It’s a rare and welcome collaboration.”
In his own statement, de Souza notes, “What Gungnir is building reminds me of the heyday of Hollywood’s Golden Age, when storytellers were encouraged to bring fresh ideas in every genre to the table. Matthew and his team at Gungnir have created an environment that’s essentially an incubator where ideas are not just protected, but unleashed. They are giving us the freedom to experiment, collaborate and execute stories with unlimited horizons — not to mention unlimited budgets: In the pages of a graphic novel, anything that can be imagined can be realized — a dream scenario for a writer!”
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