By Ryan Parsons | Image property of respective holders, Hollywood Reporter.
The Shadow
Since adapting the comicbook hero, Spider-Man, has been nothing but success for Columbia Pictures and Sam Raimi, the new BFF are now looking even farther back with The Shadow.
Columbia and Raimi to Adapt The Shadow
Kicking off its history in 1931 on a CBS radio show, The Shadow became one of the greatest pulp heroes of the time. The radio series, which featured a young Orson Welles, spawned the catchphrase "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"
The series has been given credit for influencing other stories including Batman and V for Vendetta.
It just so happens that Sam Raimi and Columbia Pictures may have a bit of new free time on their hands after the completion of Spider-Man 3, placing the duo in the market for the next big franchise.
After a lengthy negotiation, Columbia Pictures eventually sealed the deal and acquired the screen rights to The Shadow. The project already has Sam Raimi and Josh Donen on board to produce under their Buckaroo Entertainment banner.
Planning ahead, Columbia also has scribe Siavash Farahani working on the adaptation's screenplay.
Walter B. Gibson created the character, The Shadow, a crime-fighter who skulked in shadows wearing a hat and cape, and who had the power to cloud men's minds.
The Shadow has long been a dream project for Sam Raimi.
"I've been a passionate Shadow fan ever since I was a kid and have long dreamed of bringing this character to the screen," Raimi said. He is not attached to direct at this time.
With the future of the Spider-Man franchise in question after the release of the third installment, Columbia and Raimi couldn't have chosen a better time to reignite an old hero.
The Shadow 
Add to Heffee!
