Jonathan Maberry's 'Red Empire' Hype

*Red Empire*, the fifth book in Jonathan Maberry's *Rogue Team International* series, is set to release on March 10, 2026. This installment sees Joe Ledger and his team confronting a bioengineered version of the Black Death unleashed in London. The Red Empire, a resurrected and more powerful group, is behind the plague, weaponizing *yersinia pestis*, the bacteria responsible for the original Black Death. This plague caused the death of tens of millions during the Middle Ages. A major focus of *Red Empire* involves unraveling the mysterious past of Mr. Church, the enigmatic leader of Rogue Team International. Secrets about Mr. Church come to light, causing even his closest allies to question his true identity and nature. Mr. Church is known for his cookie fetish, fondness for vanilla wafers, tinted glasses, and gloves to hide frostbite from *Predator One*. He's also known by aliases like the Deacon, St. Germaine, and Cardinal. The Joe Ledger series began in 2009 with *Patient Zero*, and features the Department of Military Sciences (DMS), a rapid response group. A potential TV series based on the first three books was once in development at ABC, but wasn't picked up. However, in August 2024, a TV adaptation was announced to be in development and produced by Chad Stahelski.