Sony Pictures Adapting AfterShock Comics The Kaiju Score for the Big Screen

JB Augustine |

Aug 28, 2020

Feature film rights to experimental imprint AfterShock Comics’ latest project have been acquired by a major studio before the book goes on sale.

FandomWire reports Sony Pictures is producing AfterShock’s The Kaiju Score by writer James Patrick, artist Rem Broo, and letterer Dave Sharpe for the big screen.

Kaiju Score-Monster

Described as “part monster heist and part action-adventure arc,” The Kaiju Score will be a mish-mash of genres comparable to a Tarantino film, says creator James Patrick.

“I think the fastest way to describe it in general is what I put in the pitch,” he said in a statement. He went on, “The Kaiju Score is a Quentin Tarantino film taking place in some corner of a Godzilla movie.”

“You have this giant canvas of a kaiju attack occurring, and as it happens there’s this more personal story going on,” Patrick continued.

“And after that setup, it explores how these four characters, who are in just the worst situation in their lives, believe the only way out is to do this impossible thing, ” he added. ”This crazy crime. It’s about that desperation.”

The Kaiju Score-panel

Patrick’s work includes, The Monsters of Jimmy Crumb and Death Comes to Dillinger. Impressed by his art in Terminal Protocol, Patrick hired Rem Broo for Kaiju Score.

Broo made his name illustrating the comics Terminal Protocol and The End Times of Bram and Ben. He’s been an artist at Image since 1992.

The film is being produced by Todd Black (The Equalizer, Southpaw), Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch of Escape Artists. Company VP Tony Shaw pitched the project to Sony. Jiao Chen will oversee development for them.

AfterShock founders Lee and Jon Kramer are said to be pitching in too “from the comic book end.” Started in 2015, their label is known for the titles Animosity and Black-Eyed Kids, among others.

Kaiju Score Cover

Sony’s track record with kaiju, far from stellar, which does not inspire confidence. Their TriStar arm was behind the divisive 1998 American Godzilla.

As poor as that film’s reputation is, Sony maintains the distribution rights to some of Toho’s Heisei and Millennium Era Godzilla movies.

Be that as it may, they recently appeared to lose the rights to Godzilla vs. Biollante and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah.

Issue #1 of The Kaiju Score is on sale Nov. 25th. Below is the synopsis:

“It’s the most dangerous heist ever attempted. Four desperate criminals are going all in on a once-in-a-lifetime chance to steal millions in art and turn their miserable lives around. The catch? They have to pull it off under the nose of a one thousand-ton kaiju. And a giant monster might just be the least of their problems.”

No writer or director is attached yet to the motion picture, according to The Hollywood Reporter.