Title card for the 1960s TV version of The Saint
Paramount try to turn The Saint, the character created by Leslie Charteris, into a film franchise, Deadline: Hollywood reported.
Simon Templar has been adapted many times, both as films and as television series. A 1960s TV version made Roger Moore a star, helping him secure the role of James Bond in the 1970s.
A 1997 film version, also released by Paramount and with Val Kilmer, didn’t result in any sequels. But that’s not stopping the studio, according to Deadline. Here’s an excerpt:
Producing deals are being closed now, but it’s likely that Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Robert Evans will produce in hopes of launching another action franchise at the studio.
(snip)
If the deal makes, the studio may have another franchise in development as the character itself seems ripe for a re-do in a modern age of terrorism and corruption in the political ranks.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura is producer of the Transformers movies as well as spy-related films such as Salt and RED.
Robert Evans, who turns 86 later this month, was a Paramount executive involved with The Godfather and was producer of Chinatown. He was also a producer of the 1997 version of The Saint.
To read the full Deadline story, CLICK HERE.
Filed under: The Other Spies | Tagged: Deadline: Hollywood, Leslie Charteris, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Paramount, Robert Evans, Roger Moore, The Saint, Val Kilmer |
The Spy Command 
Hopefully this will somehow also result in releasing the unaired pilot from a few years back with good old Roger and Ian Ogilvy.
The last time Paramount had the rights to the Saint the movie tanked. Why would they want a second bite at the apple?