Chad Stahelski, Director of the John Wick Franchise, Acquires Rights to Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger Novels for TV Adaptation

By Kyra Greene

In a thrilling development for action fans, Chad Stahelski, the mastermind behind the John Wick films, has secured the rights to Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger novels with plans to adapt the gripping stories into a television series. According to a report from Deadline, Stahelski, through his 87Eleven Entertainment production company, identified the “cinematic potential” in Maberry’s work, which centers on Joe Ledger, a former Army Ranger and Baltimore police detective leading a task force that hunts down terrorist threats.

Stahelski expressed his excitement about the project, saying, “I really loved reading the Joe Ledger series. It’s an all-time epic action series with intrigue, suspense, and such engaging characters. As I read it, I could see the immediate cinematic potential. I’m excited to be working with Jonathan [Maberry] to turn it into a TV series.”

Stahelski’s extensive experience in the action genre makes him the perfect fit for this adaptation. He began his career as a stunt performer on the 1994 film The Crow, starring Brandon Lee, and continued to impress in The Matrix franchise, where he was the lead stunt double for Keanu Reeves. His transition to directing led to the creation of the John Wick franchise, which has become a global phenomenon, spawning sequels and spin-offs.

Jonathan Maberry, the creator of the Joe Ledger series, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “Chad’s career, both behind and in front of the camera, pretty much defines the kinds of things I love to watch. The Matrix, The Crow, John Wick – and so many others are solidly in my wheelhouse. And we’re both lifelong martial artists as well as professional pop-culture geeks.”

Maberry continued, “When we sat down for the first time to discuss Joe Ledger, it was clear that he not only read the books but deeply and empathetically understood the characters. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone in Hollywood whose mind runs along tracks this similar to my own. He’s also a visionary and a hell of a lot of fun. This is what they mean when they talk about ‘Hollywood magic.'”

Stahelski’s slate is already packed with exciting projects, including the highly anticipated John Wick: The High Table, a TV series set directly after the events of John Wick: Chapter 4. The show promises to feature a blend of familiar faces from the franchise and introduce new characters into the mix. With the addition of the Joe Ledger series to his portfolio, Stahelski is poised to further cement his legacy as a visionary in the action-thriller genre.