Rambo fans should be thrilled, as Reel World Management is currently planning a feature-length adaptation of David Morrell’s bestselling 1975 novel Testament according to Deadline. Morrell is perhaps widely-renowned for his debut novel First Blood, which introduced the world to future 80’s action movie icon John Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone in the film of the same name.
Reel World executives Roma Roth and Christopher E. Perry acquired Ian Jeffers to scribe the screenplay. Jeffers’ most recent work includes adapting the feature adaptation of the Ridley Scott-produced survival film The Grey, which starred Liam Neeson. His other writing credits also include the Kevin Bacon vehicle Death Sentence.
Testament has been described as survival epic that centers an average family that is forced to flee into a hostile environment and avoid the grasp of a merciless hunting party. It will serve as the feature debut for Reel World, with Roth and Perry’s most recent work being executive producers on the Netflix series Virgin River.
“I’ve been waiting for the underlying rights for Testament to become available for close to 20 years,” exclaimed Roth. “I’ve never come across another book that stayed with me in quite the same way. It grabs you from the first page and never lets you go. Ian Jeffers is the perfect writer to bring this powerful and emotional exploration of family and survival to life.”