Leonardo da Vinci, Action Hero or Diabolical Renman?

When considering Leonardo da Vinci first as an artist and anatomist, one might discount his potential for mayhem. Still, if brainiac Sherlock Holmes was ripe for re-imagining with bloody knuckles, there shouldn’t be any surprise that, according to Variety, Universal’s moving ahead with the original Renaissance Man’s biopic as action-adventure movie, produced by the guys who did Hellboy, Watchmen, and Hitman.  (Given the way their titles go, should we predict Renman, or is that too easily confused with another kind of character entirely?) There’s also apparently a series about da Vinci as a youth in the works for Showtime in 2013. 

The news did lead us to researching more about da Vinci’s street creds, including his many inventions dedicated to defense and destruction, like a 3-tiered, 8-barrelled machine gun plus enhanced firearm ignition system, an armored personnel carrier, and the ow-sharp scythed chariot below.

In addition to being able to burn and destroy any of an enemy’s bridges, his handwritten “resume” informed prospective clients of the following:

• If, by reason of the height of the banks, or the strength of the place and its position, it is impossible, when besieging a place, to avail oneself of the plan of bombardment, I have methods for destroying every rock or other fortress, even if it were founded on a rock, etc.
• Again, I have kinds of mortars; most convenient and easy to carry; and with these I can fling small stones almost resembling a storm; and with the smoke of these cause great terror to the enemy, to his great detriment and confusion.
• And if the fight should be at sea I have kinds of many machines most efficient for offense and defense; and vessels which will resist the attack of the largest guns and powder and fumes.

Guess they’re right about Leonardo da Vinci’s innate ass-kickery.  Get the Kevlar on your jerkins and doublets, ya’ll!

Image and resume info via ABlogAboutHistory.