edonline
09-14-2004, 08:38 PM
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,14918,00.html?tnews
Surf's Up for "Five-O" Film
by Joal Ryan
Sep 13, 2004, 3:15 PM PT
Danno has been booked.
Plans for a big-screen version of Hawaii Five-O are perking up, with Warners Bros. striking a deal with the rights-holder of the classic TV cop show, the studio confirms.
Officially, the project is "in development," the studio says. Scribe George Nolfi (Timeline, the upcoming Ocean's Twelve) has been tapped to write the screenplay.
According to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Nolfi recently spent two weeks in the island state scouting locations and talking up local police.
For those needing a refresher course in Hawaiian Five-O, the 1968-1980 series followed the crime-fighting efforts of a particularly stoic division of the Hawaiian State Police. Jack Lord and his bulletproof pompadour starred as terse Detective Steve McGarrett. James MacArthur was Detective Danny Williams, the sidekick who responded with obedience to the McGarrett command, "Book 'em, Danno."
George Litto, the keeper of the Five-0 badge, will produce the planned feature film version.
The names of Mel Gibson, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, and most recently, George Clooney, have been floated as possible McGarrett material, but no star has yet been signed. (Original series star Lord died in 1998 at age 77.)
Plans call for shooting to start next year, with the film to debut in theaters in Summer 2006, Daily Variety says.
For a project set in paradise, Hawaii Five-O has spent a devilishly long time in development hell.
In 1999, Litto emerged the winner in a protracted fight with CBS over the rights to the TV show. The agent to Five-0's creator, the late Leonard Freeman, Litto has been trying to get a big-screen movie made ever since.
Litto was involved in serious talks with DreamWorks in 2002, but the deal fell apart.
To reporter Tim Ryan, who has covered Litto's efforts over the past five years for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the Warners deal feels different.
"This is as close as it's gotten," says Ryan [who's no relation to the reporter].
Although Hawaii Five-O's heyday is two decades past, anticipation in the island state remains high for a McGarrett closeup, according to Ryan.
"It'll be the most-watched movie by people in Hawaii of anything that's ever been made," Ryan says. "The TV show is still the standard by which Hawaii TV shows are judged."
NBC recently held itself up for judgment with the debut of its new cop series, Hawaii. The fourth episode is scheduled to air Wednesday, leaving it only 274 installments shy of Five-O's record as prime-time's longest-running police show.
Yes, Danno booked a lot of crooks. Now, if he can just get the movie debut locked down...
Surf's Up for "Five-O" Film
by Joal Ryan
Sep 13, 2004, 3:15 PM PT
Danno has been booked.
Plans for a big-screen version of Hawaii Five-O are perking up, with Warners Bros. striking a deal with the rights-holder of the classic TV cop show, the studio confirms.
Officially, the project is "in development," the studio says. Scribe George Nolfi (Timeline, the upcoming Ocean's Twelve) has been tapped to write the screenplay.
According to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Nolfi recently spent two weeks in the island state scouting locations and talking up local police.
For those needing a refresher course in Hawaiian Five-O, the 1968-1980 series followed the crime-fighting efforts of a particularly stoic division of the Hawaiian State Police. Jack Lord and his bulletproof pompadour starred as terse Detective Steve McGarrett. James MacArthur was Detective Danny Williams, the sidekick who responded with obedience to the McGarrett command, "Book 'em, Danno."
George Litto, the keeper of the Five-0 badge, will produce the planned feature film version.
The names of Mel Gibson, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, and most recently, George Clooney, have been floated as possible McGarrett material, but no star has yet been signed. (Original series star Lord died in 1998 at age 77.)
Plans call for shooting to start next year, with the film to debut in theaters in Summer 2006, Daily Variety says.
For a project set in paradise, Hawaii Five-O has spent a devilishly long time in development hell.
In 1999, Litto emerged the winner in a protracted fight with CBS over the rights to the TV show. The agent to Five-0's creator, the late Leonard Freeman, Litto has been trying to get a big-screen movie made ever since.
Litto was involved in serious talks with DreamWorks in 2002, but the deal fell apart.
To reporter Tim Ryan, who has covered Litto's efforts over the past five years for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the Warners deal feels different.
"This is as close as it's gotten," says Ryan [who's no relation to the reporter].
Although Hawaii Five-O's heyday is two decades past, anticipation in the island state remains high for a McGarrett closeup, according to Ryan.
"It'll be the most-watched movie by people in Hawaii of anything that's ever been made," Ryan says. "The TV show is still the standard by which Hawaii TV shows are judged."
NBC recently held itself up for judgment with the debut of its new cop series, Hawaii. The fourth episode is scheduled to air Wednesday, leaving it only 274 installments shy of Five-O's record as prime-time's longest-running police show.
Yes, Danno booked a lot of crooks. Now, if he can just get the movie debut locked down...