“The Saint” movie reboot in the works at Paramount

PanARMENIAN.Net - Paramount is developing a movie reboot of “The Saint”, two decades after Val Kilmer’s thriller and 50 years after Roger Moore’s TV series, Variety reports.

The studio has secured a deal for book series rights and is closing producing deals with Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Brad Krevoy and Robert Evans with the goal of starting an action franchise.

“The Saint” is based on Leslie Charteris’ book series, which follow the debonair Simon Templar character first introduced in the 1928 novel “Meet the Tiger,” followed by “Enter the Saint” in 1930. Templar stole from corrupt politicians and warmongers, leaving a calling card of a stick figure with a halo.

George Sanders starred in half a dozen films as “The Saint” in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Prior to his days portraying James Bond, Moore starred in a popular long-running British TV series during the 1960s.

The 1997 movie starred Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue, and was directed by Phillip Noyce from a script by Jonathan Hensleigh and Wesley Strick. The film, which explored the title character dealing with the underworld of international industrial theft, was produced by Evans, David Brown, William MacDonald and Mace Neufeld.

Paramount-based di Bonaventura Pictures has produced the “Transformers,” “G.I. Joe” and “Red” franchises, along with “Salt,” “Side Effects,” “Shooter,” “Jack Ryan” and “The Devil Inside.”

Evans is best known for heading Paramount production from 1967 to 1974, overseeing “The Godfather,” “Love Story” and “Rosemary’s Baby” before becoming a producer. “Chinatown,” which he produced, was nominated for a best picture Oscar.

Evans has a first-look deal at Paramount. In addition to “The Saint,” his credits include “Marathon Man,” “Urban Cowboy,” “Sliver,” “The Cotton Club” and “How the Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”

The news about “The Saint” was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.