The comic book seriesAssassin & Sonis getting the feature film treatment courtesy of State Street Pictures. PerDeadline, the production company has optioned the rights for the comic, which comes from the minds of two former WWE Superstars. It was created and written by Marc Copani, who performed as controversial wrestling villain Muhammad Hassan, and late wrestlerShad Gaspard, who competed in the popular tag team Cryme Tyme with JTG.Gaspard passed awayin 2020.
It is presumed that the plot of the film will be similar to the comic book. Illustrated by Eder Messiah,Assassin & Sonwas first published in 2011. It is described by publisher Scout Comics as a “gritty urban-western set in present-day New York.” You can read the official synopsis for the graphic novel below.
“Donovan Braddock is a one-man killing unit who works with a team of covert assassins known as ‘The Horsemen,’ When Braddock attempts to live a normal life and leave his old violent life behind he discovers that violence still follows him as his wife is cold-heartedly murdered in front of both him and his young son. Now with nothing to live for, this tragic event sends father and son on an epic journey of revenge and consequence that becomes their ‘Path of Vengeance.'”
State Street Creative Executive Lawrence Mott said in a statement, “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to bring Shad and Marc’s comic to life. What excites us creatively is the balance of hard-hitting action and emotional themes presented in the source material.”
Scout Comics’ Don Handfield added, “We met Shad at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019. He was known for his brawn in the world of wrestling, but what we were taken by was his humor, intelligence and creative genius. We were blown away by his and Marc’s comic, and we’re proud to bring it to the world. We are happy that his legacy has a chance to live on through this partnership with State Street.”
Related:Former WWE Superstar Shad Gaspard Goes Missing at Venice Beach
The creators ofAssassin & Sonhad memorable stints in pro wrestling before moving on from WWE to other endeavors. Marc Copani had portrayed an Arab American named Muhammad Hassan from 2004 to 2005 when he was suddenly removed from WWE television due to controversial storylines and network pressure. Rather than debuting a new character in WWE or elsewhere, Copani found a new career outside of pro wrestling as a teacher. Of course, he also co-createdAssassin & Sonwith Shad Gaspard in 2011.
Gaspard is known for performing as part of the tag team Cryme Tyme alongside Jayson “JTG” Paul and appeared on WWE television from 2006 to 2010. He went on to work on various films and TV shows and even provided motion capture for Kratos in the 2018 video gameGod of War. This year, Gaspard was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame with the year’s Warrior Award, a special award given to honorees who exhibit “unwavering strength and perseverance, and who live life with the courage and compassion that embodies the indomitable spirit of the Ultimate Warrior.”
In the summer of 2020, Gaspard and his son were swimming at Venice Beach when they were caught in a strong current, taking them far away from shore. Lifeguards had actually reached Gaspard in the water, but the former wrestler informed his would-be rescuers to first save his son before saving him. They obliged, successfully pulling Gaspard’s young son to safety, but Gaspard vanished under the water soon after. The 39-year-old’s body was found three days later.
