Watch the Skies! 'The Greatest American Hero' is Returning!
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Deals, Remakes and Sequels
It's like a light of a new day. It came from out of the blue -- breaking me out of the spell I was in, making all of my wishes come....true? I'm not ashamed to say it -- I am a huge fan of The Greatest American Hero. I would take on a job shining Robert Culp's shoes if given the opportunity, and William Katt is one of the big reasons that I own the movie Jawbreaker (even though he's only in it for a split second). Ralph Hinkley is my hero, and I'd pick him over Spider-Man, Superman, or even Wolverine (okay, maybe not the last one, if we're talking X-Men or X2).So, am I happy or sad about the fact that Moviehole is reporting that the cinematic adaptation is a go? I'm not sure... They say that the film is now on-track to begin production this July, and that a casting call is being sent out to agents -- and they want "names." (I'm not sure if there is a name out there who can believably take either role...) Stephen Herek is set to direct, and while I'm not a fan of his recent work, he is the dude behind Critters, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, and The Mighty Ducks. As for the writers, the project reteams Bill & Ted scribe Chris Matheson with Herek, and adds Ryan Rowe (Charlie's Angels) to the mix.
Now, the big, ginormous issue I do have -- Pam Davidson is nowhere to be found. Moviehole says that the casting description says Hinkley is: "a high school history teacher in Tempe, Arizona, a bachelor who hasn't yet found the right girl." What the eff? I sure hope this is wrong, or that he finds Pam during the movie... Herek, Matheson, and Rowe -- If you mess this up, I will dress Katt up in the suit, and catapult him in your general direction!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-01-2008 @ 7:06PM
tomtownend said...
I loved this tv show too. Truly stupid but pretty endearing stuff.
It'll make a cock awful film though. Back in the day the ropey SFX were a simple function of tv budgets but nowadays we've all grown used to relatively humble tv shows being able to afford seamless digital effects on a par with anything Hollywood has to offer. There are different rules of engagement these days.
Besides, they'll trick up the movie version with state of the art visual effects and then cast some cocoa-shunter like Ben Stiller or Owen Wilson in the lead and it'll bear little to no resemblance to the original show - which was always meant to be funny but never at the expense of it's own technical shortcomings. It'll be Starsky & Hutch all over again.
And after 1993's The Meteor Man and this summer's Hancock hasn't the hopeless/dysfuntional flying superhero been done.
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2-02-2008 @ 6:49PM
Chris said...
They obviously have to make it ridiculous for it to work. Such a satirical concept to start (he loses the instruction manual?) leads to goofiness.
Ryan Phillipe as Mr. H, against type, but with the white-boy fro. It could be awesome. Maybe Strathairn in Culp's role? No idea if they bring in Pam or not... how about Kate Beckinsale?
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2-03-2008 @ 1:42PM
nick said...
I'm surprised you missed the opportunity for the headline 'Believe it or not, Greatest American Hero is returning'
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3-04-2008 @ 12:52AM
david luttrell said...
the producers changed Katts character's name from Hinkley to Hamley after the attempt on Reagans life. I wonder if this lead to the cancelation and if it will carry over to the movie.
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