Castlevania and Devil May Cry showrunner, Adi Shankar is eyeing Duke Nukem for his next game to media adaptation.
In an interview with Esquire, he revealed that he bought the screen rights of the crass alien fighter. He also mentioned that he’s got more Devil May Cry in the pipeline alongside being approached by different IP owners to work with him.
“I got video games in production. Obviously more Devil May Cry. I’m being approached with different IPs and companies that want to work with me. I bought the rights to Duke Nukem. Not the gaming rights, but I bought it from Gearbox.”
He was later asked what his vision was, and it was for a Duke Nukem show, and he really just wants to keep it on-brand with the character and that it “can’t be made by a corporation” and that he doesn’t intend on having “anyone tell me what to do on this one.”
“It’s a middle finger to everybody. When Duke Nukem blew up, a bunch of people sat around trying to turn it into a brand, when it’s just a middle finger. Duke Nukem can’t be made by a corporation, because the moment a corporation makes Duke Nukem, it’s no longer Duke Nukem. I don’t intend on having anyone tell me what to do on this one.”
Shankar acquiring the rights does call into question the movie that’s in development at Legendary Entertainment, but we’ll have to wait and see.