F. Gary Gray will direct a Saints Row movie

F. Gary Gray’s Fenix Studios, Koch Media and Occupant Entertainment have partnered to develop the popular action-adventure video game franchise Saints RowTM into a feature film for F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton, Men in Black: International) to direct. Greg Russo (Mortal Kombat) has been hired to write the screenplay.

Saints Row is one of the best-selling and adored video game franchises of all time. Created by acclaimed videogame developer Deep Silver Volition LLC., and published by Deep Silver, the quadrilogy tells the story of the rise of the Third Street Saints as they battle rival gangs, furries and even aliens in an attempt to conquer the fictional cities of Stilwater and Steelport, ultimately elevating their leader to President of the United States.

Greg Russo has carved a niche adapting videogame properties. He was the architect of the Mortal Kombat reboot gearing up at Warner Bros. and worked on the Resident Evil reboot for Constantin. He’s currently writing Death Note 2 for Netflix and an adaptation of the DC comic The Highwaymen at New Line.

Gray, coming off the global smash hit The Fate of The Furious, is currently in post on MIB: International, the Sony franchise reboot starring Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, which hits theaters on June 14th. Fenix Studios is also currently developing a feature adaptation of the video gameEcho with Derek Kolstad (John Wick Trilogy) writing.

Occupant is in post-production on action-comedy Guns Akimbo, starring Daniel Radcliffe.

Gray is repped by UTA, Artists First and Del Shaw Moonves. Russo’s deal was brokered by Verve, Lit Entertainment and Jeff Frankel.

Fenix and Occupant will produce the film alongside Koch Films, a subsidiary of the German-based media conglomerate Koch Media, which owns Saints Row publisher Deep Silver. This project will be a part of Fenix Studios’ production and development deal with Starlight Culture Entertainment Group. Gary Glushon is overseeing for Fenix Studios. Felipe Marino and Joe Neurauter are producing for Occupant with Stefan Kapelari and Moritz Peters for Koch Films.