Adi Shankar

Aditya Shankar (born 8 January 1985) is an Indian-American film producer, screenwriter, film director, television program creator, television showrunner, and occasional actor.

In the 2010s he was best known for producing the Judge Dredd film Dredd, showrunning the animated series Castlevania, and for creating his "Bootleg Universe" series of fan films. In the 2020s, he became known for creating the Netflix series The Guardians of Justice, Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix, and Devil May Cry.

He remains the youngest producer to have a number one film at the North American box office with the 2012 film The Grey. In 2014, Shankar ranked number 20 on GQ magazine's list of "Most Influential Global Indian Men". In 2010 he co-founded the production company 1984 Private Defense Contractors.

Early life and education Aditya Shankar was born in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, to a banking executive and an educator. His family spent his formative years relocating among Chennai, Mumbai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He immigrated to Rhode Island, USA by himself at the age of 16. Shankar studied communications, business, and theater at Northwestern University and graduated in June 2007.

Career His Bootleg satires include The Punisher: Dirty Laundry, Venom: Truth in Journalism, and Power/Rangers.

In 2015, Shankar signed a three-picture deal with Disney's Maker Studios.

Influences For his controversial "Bootleg Universe", Shankar cites British street artist Banksy as a major influence. In addition, Shankar frequently cites rapper Eminem, writer Warren Ellis, artist Takashi Murakami, wrestler Diamond Dallas Page and Final Fantasy VII character Sephiroth as artistic and stylistic influences.

"The Apu problem"

In April 2018, Shankar started a script contest which he hoped would encourage people to rewrite The Simpsons character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon "that takes the character of Apu and in a clever way subverts him, pivots him, intelligently writes him out, or evolves him". He stated that, in the event that the show's producers will not take on the winning script, he would produce and distribute the episode as part of his "Bootleg Universe" fan films. A representative for the show at Fox responded, saying, "Apu appeared in the 10/14/18 episode "My Way or the Highway to Heaven"."

The character was absent from the show for two years, and on 17 Jan 2020, Hank Azaria announced he was stepping down from the role of Apu permanently. Shankar has stated that he was against the cancellation of the character: "Silencing Apu is a step sideways. It doesn't undo the damage, address the damage or benefit the show's 'creativity.' It just removes another brown face from TV."

Filmography Film Year Title Role Studio/Distributor Notes 2010 Main Street Executive ProducerMagnolia Pictures 2011 Machine Gun PreacherRelativity Media The GreyOpen Road 2012 DreddLionsgate Killing Them SoftlyThe Weinstein Company Gangs of WasseypurCinelicious PicsShankar also presented the international release. 2013 Broken City20th Century Studios Lone SurvivorUniversal Pictures 2014 The Voices Producer Lionsgate Also played John A Walk Among the Tombstones Executive ProducerUniversal Pictures 2017 Bodied ProducerNeon Also played Campus Security Guard 2024 Ick ProducerFathom Entertainment

Television

"Bootleg Universe" One-Shot Films Year Title Length Genre Role Notes 2012 The Punisher: Dirty Laundry 9 min 50 seconds Action/Crime Producer Thomas Jane reprises his role as Marvel anti-hero Frank Castle aka The Punisher from the 2004 film. 2013 Venom: Truth in Journalism 17 min 8 seconds Crime/Comedy Producer In a black and white homage to cult Belgian black comedy Man Bites Dog and set in the late 1980s, Ryan Kwanten stars as Spider-Man's nemesis Eddie Brock / Venom as he is followed around by a documentary film crew. In a post-credits sequence, Shankar portrays rival documentary video director Sunil Bakshi, who is similarly following around the assassin Ben / Bullseye and filming him execute people. 2014 Judge Dredd: Superfiend 26 min 32 seconds Action/Comedy Producer An animated re-interpretation of Judge Dredd in the form of a violent Saturday morning cartoon. Does not take place in the continuity of the Shankar-produced 2012 film Dredd. 2015 Power/Rangers 11 min 45 seconds Action/Sci-Fi Producer A dark reimagining of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers that explores a timeline where the Rangers lost, starring James Van Der Beek and Katee Sackhoff, with Carla Perez reprising her role as Rita Repulsa from various Power Rangers series from 1994 to 1998. James Bond: In Service of Nothing 10 min 55 seconds Spy/Action Producer An animated short film in the style of a film animatic, where after 30 years in the agency, James Bond is no longer required for his services leading to his retirement as he tries adjust himself to a new life in the present. 2018 Mr. Rogers: A War Hero 14 min 06 seconds Biopic Producer A "What if?" scenario based on the longstanding rumor where Fred Rogers served in the Vietnam War and based several characters on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from his wartime comrades 2019 The End of Pokemon 5 min 25 seconds Action/Thriller Producer An animated fake trailer for a dark epilogue to the Pokémon anime series. Cancelled Superman Vs. the Ku Klux Klan Producer Based on the book Superman Versus the Ku Klux Klan by Rick Bowers.

Music credits 2025 – Devil May Cry (soundtrack) – Executive Producer, Soundtrack & Music. The album features the original song "Afterlife" by Evanescence.

2026 – Devil May Cry 2 (soundtrack) – Executive Producer, Soundtrack & Music. The album features the original song "See You in Hell" by Papa Roach featuring Hanumankind.