Magdalena

Producer Gale Ann Hurd (producer of the "Hulk" franchise, "Terminator" franchise and "Punisher" franchise) talked about the upcoming film "Magdalena" with MTV News.

“We’re in the early script phase at the moment,” explained Hurd. “There should be some [casting announcements] within the next month and a half on this.”

According to MTV News, "So far, the only actors cast in “Magdalena” are Jenna Dewan (“Step Up”) and Luke Goss (“Hellboy II”), with more on the way. Based on the Top Cow comic, the flick will tell the story of Patience (Dewan), a tough warrior who can trace her lineage back to Mary Magdalene. This being a comic, the character’s path has sometimes crossed with “Witchblade,” but the producer could neither confirm nor deny that the movie would have a similar crossover.

“I can’t speak to that,” she insisted. “That would be something for a Top Cow or Platinum Studio person.”

Hurd was eager, however, to address the rampant rumors that her film would be forced to trim back religious aspects of the comic to appease mainstream audiences. “I don’t think you can separate ‘Magdalena’ completely from the legacy of her descent or the fear of destiny or many things that are connected with her as part of the comic book franchise,” she explained. “But at the same time, it’s not a religious movie in that respect. We’re not going to disregard it, but if you’re familiar [with the comic] it is not a movie that examines religion per se, but it’s a character who comes from a religious tradition.”

Taking things a step further, Hurd compared the film to “The Da Vinci Code” franchise in that religion is present, but mainly in the background to set up story. “That’s a perfect analogy,” she said. “Same thing with ‘The Omen,’ or films like that. It’s a jumping off point. It is not untrue to its background, but that’s not what the story is about.”

Hurd said that Dewan is about to undergo some serious training, so she can continue the producer’s impressive history of giving us strong, no-nonsense cinematic heroines. “Being a dancer, she’s in great shape already, and she’s done quite a lot of action training in the past so I think she’ll pick it up very quickly,” the producer explained. “I’ll tell ya, Jenna is all for it. She is ready to get in there and kick some butt.”