Fredrik Bond to direct 'Hack/Slash'

Rogue greenlights comic book adaptation

By MARC GRASER

Rogue Pictures' adaptation of comicbook 'Hack/Slash' will be directed by Fredrik Bond.

Commercials and musicvid helmer Fredrik Bond is ready to beat up on some bogeymen, agreeing to direct Rogue Pictures' "Hack/Slash" for the Relativity-owned genre label.

"Hack/Slash," based on the Devil's Due Publishing comicbook, has been a top contender to receive a greenlight at Rogue for some time, and it remained a high priority after Relativity acquired the company from Universal early this year and spun it off as a separate entity.

Property, created by Tim Seeley and Stefano Caselli, revolves around Cassie Hack, a young woman who travels the country, taking on homicidal maniacs and serial killers along the way.

Justin Marks ("He-Man and the Masters of the Universe," "Voltron") penned the most recent draft of the actioner, which will include a heavy dose of comedy along with the monster mashing.

Pic is expected to lense early next year.

Monsters were apparently destined to be part of Bond's first foray into directing films. The Swede is attached to shepherd U's remake of "The Host" and Warner Bros.' redo of "The Hunger" for Scott Free.

Bond is best known for his commercial work for such companies as Adidas, JCPenney, Pepsi and Volkswagen as well as Moby's musicvid for the song "Bodyrock."

Todd Lincoln had previously been attached to helm "Hack/Slash."

Adrian Askarieh and Daniel Alter, who both produced Fox's "Hitman" and have a bigscreen version of "Johnny Quest" set up at Warner Bros., will produce "Hack/Slash" along with Alexandra Milchan.

U will distrib the pic as part of Rogue's continuing relationship with the studio.