Bigfoot Stars in ‘Wildman’ a ‘John Wick’ Style Revenge Thriller

Hollywood has a rich history of pursuing high-concept mashups, particularly in the action genre. For years, the phrase “Die Hard on a…” was the go-to shorthand for quickly selling a script, but it seems that pitch has now been replaced by a new one inspired by Keanu Reeves’ iconic assassin saga.

“John Wick but with…” has become the phrase producers use when they want to make a project sound instantly appealing, often linking it to something familiar, like a school bus or a cruise ship. However, this time, the formula has taken an unexpected twist, involving neither hitmen nor stylish attire.

Badlands, the genre label helmed by Scott Strauss and part of Thunder Road, the production company behind the ‘John Wick’ franchise, has acquired the spec script for ‘Wildman.’ This project is unofficially described as ‘John Wick’ meets Bigfoot. The logline is as straightforward as it sounds: when his younger brother is killed by hunters, Bigfoot embarks on a bloody mission to retrieve the body, taking down everyone responsible along the way.

The premise may seem too absurd to succeed, yet that very absurdity is generating considerable buzz. Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, who produced the ‘John Wick’ films, are attached to the project through Badlands, lending the pitch significant credibility beyond just a catchy tagline.

The journey ‘Wildman’ took to be acquired is almost as intriguing as its concept. Writer Jacob Rainer, a Texas native with a long-standing fascination for Bigfoot lore, entered his script into Blood and Ink, a horror screenwriting contest hosted by Carson Reeves on his site Scriptshadow.net.

Reeves highlighted Rainer’s script during the contest, which caught the attention of manager Jake Wagner from Alibi Entertainment, who reached out to Rainer directly. This led to a swift move towards a studio deal, marking Rainer’s first sale as a working Hollywood writer, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Such a trajectory, from an amateur horror contest to a major studio acquisition, is rare and part of why the deal is attracting attention even before a director or cast has been confirmed. Currently, no filmmaker is attached, and details regarding casting or a release timeline remain under wraps.

Revenge thrillers featuring a grieving protagonist with a kill list are not new, but replacing a retired hitman with a mythical cryptid gives ‘Wildman’ a genuinely unique angle. It also taps into a growing interest in Bigfoot-themed horror and genre content, a subgenre that has maintained a loyal following for decades.

Badlands is also active elsewhere, with plans to release its spider-invasion horror film ‘Crawlers,’ starring Matilda Lutz, on October 16, ensuring the studio has a genre release lined up before ‘Wildman’ likely begins production.

For now, ‘Wildman’ is still in the early development stages, but the concept alone has sparked significant online discussion, with fans speculating on how far the film could push its outrageous premise while still delivering the visceral, hand-to-hand action that ‘John Wick’ is known for. Whether the final film leans more towards grief-driven horror or intense action will likely depend on the director who eventually comes on board.

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