In a groundbreaking development for Indian cinema, PeepingMoon.com has exclusively learned that Bollywood filmmaker Nikhil Bhat, who directed the internationally acclaimed action thriller ‘Kill’ (2024), is in discussions with Universal Studios to helm a Hollywood superhero film.

It's unclear if there have been any deal papers drafted yet, but sources claim that negotiations have been underway for some time. Leading Hollywood talent agency WME (William Morris Endeavor) is believed to be negotiating the deal on Bhat’s behalf. If it materializes, it could mark a historic milestone for an Indian filmmaker transitioning to a major Hollywood studio project.

Bhat’s ascent to Hollywood’s radar follows the meteoric success of ‘Kill’, a violent action thriller produced by Karan Johar and Guneet Monga. The film premiered to thunderous acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival’s Midnight Madness section in 2023, earning widespread praise for its relentless intensity. It also achieved commercial success upon its theatrical release in India, cementing Bhat’s reputation as a formidable talent. The film’s impact extended further when 87North Productions, the producer of the John Wick franchise, acquired the rights for an English-language remake.

This potential Universal Studios superhero film represents a significant leap for Bhat, who began his career with smaller-scale films like ‘Brij Mohan Amar Rahe’ (2018), ‘The Gone Game’ (2020), ‘Hurdang’ (2022), and ‘Apurva’ (2023). The success of ‘Kill’ has catapulted him into the international spotlight, making him a prime candidate for a high-stakes superhero film. While the road to finalizing the Hollywood deal may be long, the ongoing discussions signal a promising trajectory. Should the superhero project come to fruition, it will position Bhat among an elite group of Indian directors who have crossed over to Hollywood, joining the ranks of luminaries like Shekhar Kapur, Mira Nair, Ritesh Batra, Deepa Mehta, and Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

Bhat is said to be simultaneously also working on a mainstream action entertainer for Dharma Productions. He is currently balancing both projects, and the one that enters production first will depend largely on casting and other logistical considerations. The director has been exploring multiple projects since last year and was once set to direct a South Indian action film starring Vijay Deverakonda. However, that project was quietly shelved for reasons unknown.