Iron Man scribes Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby have joined as writers for the live-action adaptation Shadow Tiger, a comic title from Graphic India.
This English-language film is being independently developed and produced by Graphic India through its new live-action production division. The company’s CEO Sharad Devarajan, Fergus and Ostby are producing along with Graphic India live action SVP Sarena Khan.
The Shadow Tiger comics tell the story of Rajan Shah, a brilliant young lawyer from humble beginnings, who sees his career destroyed when he challenges corruption in India’s legal system. His life takes an extraordinary turn when he inherits a billion-dollar empire and a mysterious power from the very man responsible for his parents’ death. Haunted by his complex past, he vows to protect the innocent and bring justice to those beyond the reach of the law. With each act of justice, Shadow Tiger teeters on the precipice of becoming the very darkness he swore to fight. It is one thing to die for a cause, but another to kill for it.
This live-action film marks the first return to the superhero genre for the Academy Award nominated writers since the first Iron Man film for Marvel. In addition to their acclaimed film work, the Children of Men scribes Fergus and Ostby are creators of the hit sci-fi series The Expanse, and currently writing and executive producing the God of War series for Amazon Prime Video.
Shadow Tiger is one of the most acclaimed comic books out of India in recent years. The superheroes digital short form episodic releases combined with social media fan engagement contests have reached over 330 million views across digital platforms.
“We’ve always loved international stories that can speak to audiences across cultures and borders. Shadow Tiger felt like an ideal opportunity to do that, by returning to the roots of the superhero genre, namely that superheroes were meant to inspire ordinary people to fight injustice,” screenwriters Fergus and Ostby said in a joint statement.
“In creating Shadow Tiger, my mission was to create a truly global superhero with uniquely Indian roots. Having Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby on board is a game-changer – their work on Iron Man laid the foundation for a cinematic universe that has generated over $30 billion and transformed global entertainment. They’re the perfect writers to take Shadow Tiger to the world, and I am honoured they have chosen this character to mark their return to superheroes,” added Shadow Tiger creator Devarajan.
Devarajan has previously co-created the Indian Spider-Man, Pavitr Prabhakar, and worked with legendary creator Stan Lee to co-create Chakra The Invincible. Previously at Graphic India, he had co-created, written and produced the animated hit, The Legend of Hanuman.
Fergus and Ostby are represented by CAA, Kaplan/Perrone, and Gochman Law Group.
