‘Sons Of Anarchy’ Star Kim Coates Picked For Lead Role In Comic Book Film

Kim Coates, who starred as Tig Trager in the critically acclaimed and popular FX series, Sons of Anarchy, has been chosen to star in a new comic book movie directed by one of the co-founders of the band Slipknot.

Officer Downe was a one-shot comic by Joe Casey and Chris Burnham. Published by Image Comics in 2010, Officer Downe tells the story of the title character, who gets killed over and over again, only to be brought back to continue his war on the bad guys in the most over-the-top way possible.

With Kim Coates in the title role, Officer Downe will be directed by former Slipknot member M. Shawn Crahan for the Living Out Loud Films production company. This will be the directorial debut for the former mask-wearing rocker. Mark Neveldine and Skip Williamson will produce, and write the script alongside Cole Payne and original Officer Downe writer Joe Casey.

This is a major opportunity for Kim Coates. Hot off of his great work on Sons of Anarchy, this will be his first chance to carry a film. Coates has had minor starring parts in films and television series since the mid-80s, but Officer Downe will give him the chance to stand alone in the spotlight. Some of Kim’s more memorable roles include bit parts in The Client, Black Hawk Down, Silent Hill, Smallville, Prison Break, Entourage and Resident Evil: Afterlife.

Kim Coates has made appearances on such varied TV programs as Miami Vice and Hercules. Despite that impressive body of work, however, it was playing Tig Trager on Sons of Anarchy that really put Kim Coates on the map. When the series started, Coates’ character of Tig was the steadfast Sergeant of Arms of the motorcycle club that was willing to do anything asked of him — no matter how disgusting. Over the course of the show, Kim played Tig with a deadpan humor that made the character a fan favorite.

First-time director M. Shawn Crahan, aka Clown, was one of the co-founders of the heavy metal band Slipknot. Crahan won’t be the first heavy metal virtuoso to switch gears into film. Rob Zombie made the leap in 2000 when he directed House of 1000 Corpses. Zombie went on to direct such films as The Devil’s Rejects and the 2007 remake of the classic horror film, Halloween. Zombie’s films have been both lauded and panned. It will be interesting to see if Crahan can make a successful directorial leap with Kim Coates in Officer Downe.

[Image via Mad Movies – Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images]