Comic by WWE superstars being developed into a movie

The comic Assassin & Son by two former WWE wrestlers was picked up for a motion picture adaptation.

A new comic book movie is on the way and the authors have people taking notice as much as the story does. The film optioned for development is called Assassin & Son, based on the series of the same name written by WWE wrestlers Shad Gaspard and Mark Copani.

Deadline reported that State Street Pictures picked up the rights to the graphic tome and will produce alongside the comic’s publisher Scout Comics.

“We’re thrilled at the opportunity to bring Shad and Marc’s comic to life,” Lawrence Mott, State Street Creative Executive, said. “What excites us creatively is the balance of hard-hitting action and emotional themes presented in the source material.”

An Assassin’s creed

Assassin & Son stars Donovan Braddock, a member of a group of covert hitmen named “The Horseman.” He tries to leave his old life to start a family but his wife is murdered in front of him and his young son, sending them on a mission of revenge resembling a modern-day Western.

“We met Shad at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019,” recalled Don Handfield of Scout Comics. “He was known for his brawn in the world of wrestling, but what we were taken by was his humor, intelligence, and creative genius.”

He added, “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.”

What Tyme is it? Cryme Tyme

Shad Gaspard’s legacy began in WWE as a part of the celebrated tag team Cryme Tyme with Jayson “JTG” Paul at the height of the company’s Ruthless Aggression era. After two separate runs, Gaspard left the business to try his luck in Hollywood and is known best for his stunt work on Black Panther.

He passed away in a drowning incident at Venice Beach in 2020. On a day at the beach with his family, Gaspard was taken out to sea by a wave once an emergency team managed to rescue his son, which Gaspard pleaded for. His family was bestowed WWE’s Warrior Award this year in honor of Gaspard and his heroism.

His former partner Paul, now known as Jay Tha Gawd, carries on as a singles wrestler in the NWA and on the indies — often paying tribute to his fallen friend before his matches.

Rise & Fall

Mark Copani had success in WWE too though it didn’t last long. His rise as the villainous Muhammad Hassan was meteoric in 2005 but it came to a screeching halt after a segment on SmackDown coincided with bombings in London.

Copani was quickly taken off TV and released once he was summarily defeated by The Undertaker at July’s Great American Bash pay-per-view. He didn’t stick around wrestling much longer either and now works as a school principal.

No release date or start date of production has been set for Assassin & Son.

Does Assassin & Son sound like something you wish to see or pick up? Comment below and come back as more develops on this story.