Devil May Cry Creator Buys Duke Nukem Screen Rights

As a pre-teen in the mid-’90s, playing Duke Nukem 3D on my PC was an experience to behold. The first-person shooter about a tough but crude American badass stopping an alien invasion was a staple of the era’s politically incorrect entertainment. After more than a decade of being dormant as a brand, Adi Shankar plans to breathe new life into the franchise.

The creator of Netflix’s Devil May Cry anime took to X to address Duke Nukem fans in the wake of obtaining the film and television rights to the character. At a time of cultural sensitivities, Shankar did not mince words about his confidence that the “brand will be saved”.

“I feel preemptively bad for the cry babies. I apologize in advance to them… But you’re not gonna like what I’m gonna do with Adi Shankar’s Duke Nukem.”

In another tweet trolling the fans, Shankar poked fun at the fans attempting to correct his use of “Apache” instead of Duke Nukem’s original game makers Apogee Software.

“Apache is a MUCH better name that Apogee. That’s why I’m calling them Apache. Apogee sounds like Apology (which is something only losers do). Apache sounds like a battle helicopter (which is very cool). Duke Nukem is in great hands with me because I’m a genius.”

Shankar is no stranger to adapting popular game titles to a new medium. Aside from Devil May Cry, he produced all four seasons of Netflix’s Castlevania anime. The quality of both shows should bode well for Duke Nukem whether it’s anime or potentially a live-action film. Either way, Shankar explained to Esquire that he does not intend to sanitize the arrogant hero, who has a love for attractive blondes and big guns.

Also Check Out: John Cena In Negotiations To Star As Duke Nukem?

“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.”

Selling 3.5 million copies upon release in 1996, Duke Nukem 3D was one of the most popular games ever made. However, its long-delayed continuation, Duke Nukem Forever, in 2011, was a massive disappointment with critics and fans. As early as the late ‘90s, Hollywood made numerous attempts to bring the character to the screen with John Cena in contention for the role in 2018. Before Shankar purchased the Duke Nukem rights, the creative team behind Netflix’s Cobra Kai was set to produce a feature film with Legendary Entertainment in 2022. It is unclear if they will remain involved in the project.

What do you think of Adi Shankar buying Duke Nukem? Do you want to see a movie or a series? Let us know in the comments.

The post Devil May Cry Creator Buys Duke Nukem Screen Rights appeared first on LRMonline.