Movies And Shows You Didn’t Realize Were Based On Comic Books

Warren Ellis is one of comic’s most prolific writers, responsible for work at both Marvel, DC, and beyond. His “Extremis” storyline in the pages of “Iron Man” formed the central story for the film “Iron Man 3,” while his superhero team “The Authority” is due to be adapted into a feature film in James Gunn’s newly rebooted DC cinematic universe. Back in 2010, though, the action-comedy “Red,” starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Karl Urban, adapted one of his lesser-known titles, “Red.”

Willis stars in the film as Frank Moses, a retired CIA agent who now leads a more ordinary life than the daring exploits of the black ops killer he once was. But after finding himself on the wrong end of an assassination attempt, Moses must seek out a group of former colleagues, including his old mentor Joe (Morgan Freeman), fellow agent Boggs (Malkovich), pilot Singer (James Remar), retired assassin Victoria (Mirren), and even a one-time rival — lovesick Russian FSB operative Simanov (Brian Cox) — to strike back at whoever wants him dead.

Released to good reviews and some real box office bucks, “Red” received a sequel in 2013 that added Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lee Byung-hun, and Anthony Hopkins to the sprawling all-star cast.

Warren Ellis is one of comic’s most prolific writers, responsible for work at both Marvel, DC, and beyond. His “Extremis” storyline in the pages of “Iron Man” formed the central story for the film “Iron Man 3,” while his superhero team “The Authority” is due to be adapted into a feature film in James Gunn’s newly rebooted DC cinematic universe. Back in 2010, though, the action-comedy “Red,” starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, and Karl Urban, adapted one of his lesser-known titles, “Red.”

Willis stars in the film as Frank Moses, a retired CIA agent who now leads a more ordinary life than the daring exploits of the black ops killer he once was. But after finding himself on the wrong end of an assassination attempt, Moses must seek out a group of former colleagues, including his old mentor Joe (Morgan Freeman), fellow agent Boggs (Malkovich), pilot Singer (James Remar), retired assassin Victoria (Mirren), and even a one-time rival — lovesick Russian FSB operative Simanov (Brian Cox) — to strike back at whoever wants him dead.

Released to good reviews and some real box office bucks, “Red” received a sequel in 2013 that added Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lee Byung-hun, and Anthony Hopkins to the sprawling all-star cast.