Universal delays production of Cowboy Ninja Viking with stars Chris Pratt, Priyanka Chopra

Universal Pictures’ Cowboy Ninja Viking was scheduled to begin filming next month aiming for a late June release in 2019. However, the production has been stalled but still is in active development with actor Pratt, actress Priyanka Chopra, and director Michelle MacLaren staying on the project, according to trade magazine Variety.

The film has been removed from Universal Pictures' 2019 release schedule and the film’s release date will be re-accommodated according to the new production schedule. The studio did not want to the rush the film which they hope can be turned into a successful action franchise. The news of the film’s delay was first reported by Collider.com.

Based on the Image Comics graphic novel by writer AJ Lieberman and illustrator Riley Rossmo, the film’s screenplay had been original written by Deadpool (2016) writers Paul Wernick and Everett David Reese. Later, The Hangover Part II (2011) writer Craig Mazin wrote another draft. The latest draft was written by writers Dan Mazeau and Ryan Engle.

The project has been in development since 2014 at Universal Pictures with Pratt slated to act in it. Pratt is also co-producer on the film with Mark Gordon and Michael De Luca. Director MacLaren came on board the film this January.

Chopra's casting was announced just last week and her participation in the film will now depend on the new filming schedule of the project, though it seems unlikely that the actress wouldn’t be a part of the film. She is currently filming for the Hindi film, The Sky Is Pink (2019), with Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Wasim.

Pratt was slated to star as Duncan, an assassin in the counter-intelligence program formed by psychotherapist Dr Sebastian Ghislain. Duncan becomes a Triplet agent that possesses the skills of a cowboy, ninja and Viking, hence the title of the comic. Chopra would have played Sara Nix, Ghislain’s assistant, who is also Duncan’s love interest.