With a new Red Sonja movie having been in development hell for years by this point, now comes word that Bryan Singer is close to joining the project.

Via The Hollywood Reporter, Singer is currently in talks to direct the effort for Millennium Films. If all goes to plan, he would direct from a screenplay by X-Men: First Class’ Ashley Miller. The pair worked together on that effort, with Singer serving as a producer on First Class.

As a character, Red Sonja began life back in 1973 as a creation of Robert E. Howard, Roy Thomas, and Barry Windsor for Marvel Comics. A truly badass warrior who is at the absolute peak of human conditioning, Sonja quickly became a major favourite of many. To this day, the comics are still published, albeit through Dynamite Entertainment nowadays.

Elsewhere, Sonja was previously given the silver screen treatment when Brigitte Nielsen starred in 1985’s Red Sonja. In addition to Rose McGowan once being up to play the character in more recent times, Amber Heard was another who was being lined up to tackle a new incarnation of Sonja once McGowan had to drop out of the running due to an arm injury. On the small screen, the character – as played by Angelica Bridges – made an appearance in the Conan TV series of the late ‘90s, with former WWE grappler Sable positioned to headline a Sonja series in 1999 before that also fell apart. Bryan Singer has since flirted with the idea of a TV effort at several points, but that similarly seems to have gone nowhere up until now.

Up next for Bryan Singer is the stunning looking Bohemian Rhapsody this October – and as ever, expect on all things Red Sonja as we get it.