TorontoFilm.Net reports that the ReelzChannel network has picked up the Toronto-lensed action thriller "XIII" from Prodigy Pictures, co-produced by Luc Besson's French production company EuropaCorp Television. Cast also includes Virginie Ledoyen, Caterina Murino, Greg Bryk, Stephen McHattie and Ted Atherton.
"XIII" adapts the Franco-Belgian comic book series 'XIII", created by Jean Van Hamme and William Vance.
With a plot inspired by author Robert Ludlum's best-seller "The Bourne Identity", "XIII" debuted in 1984, followed by TV adaptations and video games.
In the original comic book series :
"...the first female US President, 'Sally Sheridan' is shot dead by a sniper during her 'Veterans Day' speech. Her assassin narrowly escapes the scene with his life. Three months later, an elderly couple discover the body of a wounded man in a tree, wearing a parachute. He cannot remember the slightest thing about his own identity. The only clue is a tattoo on his neck, "XIII".
"In Washington, government intelligence continues to search for the President's killer. With elections weeks away, a credible suspect could swing the vote for the administration. Hours after XIII's location is picked up by covert intelligence, elite special ops forces swarm over the elderly couple's house in 'Cape Fear'.
"Running on adrenaline and instinct, XIII tactically takes out the soldiers one by one. On the run, clinging to one desperate clue after another, XIII begins to piece back his life, fragments of his memory returning. Finally captured, he learns that he has been given a stolen identity and placed undercover to flush out a group of conspirators threatening to overthrow the government.
"Ensconced within the highest echelons of power the conspirators run their own security agency alongside the Government's. Now both are out to find him. The only way for XIII to get his own life back is to play bait. A dangerous game, especially when you don't know who you really are..."
