Vin Diesel to Star in Kojak Movie
Looks like another ’70s cop show is about to make its way to the big screen some forty years after its heyday. Joining The Rockford Files which is already in development, a Kojak movie is now also in the process of being cooked up over at Universal Pictures. The bald detective famously played by Telly Savalas appeared on CBS for five seasons between 1973 and 78 before being cancelled due to low ratings. Now a new generation will instead get to hear Vin Diesel growl the classic catchphrase, “Who loves ya, baby?”.
According to Deadline, Universal has hired screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade to pen the script for a Kojak feature film. The duo have a pretty solid reputation in Hollywood right now after writing the script for the last three Bond movies: Skyfall, Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale. However, it’s worth noting that they also penned a couple of the Pierce Brosnan flicks (Die Another Day and The World Is Not Enough) in addition to the Rowan Atkinson comedy Johnny English. Unfortunately, it won’t be set in the ’70s; Purvis and Wade will “re-imagine and contemporize” the character instead.
Part of me thinks that Vin Diesel is an obvious and uninspired choice and that just landed the role by default because he is one of a few “cool” bald action stars out there. I mean, let’s be serious… anyone could just shave their head to play Kojak. On the other hand, I assume this means they’ll be taking the character in a more action-oriented direction and I am somewhat curious to see what comes of it. Can Vin Diesel successfully launch a new franchise outside of The Fast and the Furious and Riddick films? Are you interested in a new take on Kojak?
Comments (4)
‘Who Love’s Ya Baby’?, Obviously not the makers of this. Use your brains and come up with something new! Leave something that was far too intelligent for audiences (albeit TV)back in the day. Telly was the best thing on telly. Vin, don’t do it please….
Posted by ProfessionalCynic on December 17th, 2012The Head (bald) is right, and Vin regular can act, or at least be funny (Find me guilty was great).
Nobody can replace Telly, but this is a world of pure greed and this is better than most of the other pure greed breed projects. Only a little bit, but Bit by Bit we come closer to a Fletch remake.
Posted by Stinker on December 18th, 2012Good old Telly.
Posted by patrik on December 18th, 2012Are they doing this for any reason other than they kind of look alike?
Posted by Steve on December 20th, 2012Leave a Reply