New 'Zorro' Reportedly To Portray Gritty Realism A La 'Dark Knight'

Sony Pictures has reportedly signed screenwriter and playwright Chris Boal to pen the script for its reboot of the "Zorro" franchise, and it looks like the previously campy hero might take a step into the gritty, modern world.

Deadline reports that the studio is hoping to take a page out of Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” films and make the famous swordsman a more realistic character. Deadline also says Boal's version of Don Diego de la Vega’s alter ego will be skilled in European martial arts, swords, daggers, grappling and bare knuckles.

The iconic folk hero's mask was last worn on the big screen by Antonio Banderas in “The Legend of Zorro" (2005). IGN notes that Fox was said to be planning a “Zorro Reborn” film, which was rumored to be set in a post-apocalyptic world with Gael Garcia Bernal as the hero; but there hasn’t been news about that project for roughly two years.

IGN also points out the irony that Zorro may emulate a Batman film, since Zorro largely inspired the Batman character in the comic books. When Bruce Wayne’s parents were killed outside of a theater, the family had just seen the latest Zorro film.