1078 replies to this topic

[Eurospy]

I'm a fan of The Saint, both the novels and the show, although the movie starring Val Kilmer was not quite my cup of tea.

What I fail to understand is why haven't we got a "reboot/revive the fanchise" movie, or a new TV series.

Last I heard, they were close to move forward with a show to star James Purefoy, but it seems he dropped this project for something called "The Philantropist". Before that, a couple of years ago I had heard that RKO had a new adaptation of The Saint in New York (didn't even know that they were still around), but little more besides that.

Why hasn't this character been re-adapted for the screen? Simon Templar seems so perfect for it.

Don't the copyright holders quite know how to adapt the character, or is it some copyright issue by itself?

Does anyone have any idea regarding this - what adaptations have they attempted to lift off the ground, or why none of them has been realized so far?

Seems such a waste of a good character and ripping yarns.

Edited by Eurospy, 17 January 2009 - 10:05 PM.

[Righty007]

Like Batman before it, Val Kilmer seems to have killed The Saint franchise. Hopefully the series is revived soon in either a television or big screen adaptation. I'm not a huge fan of the Saint but I would gladly watch any new interpretation.

[TheSaint]

Last I heard, the project that Purefoy was involved in was continuing but they will have to re-cast.

[RivenWinner]

Last I heard, Roger Moore and his son Geoffrey were working on a new TV series for The Saint. They were going to serve as consultants/producers. That project is still listed here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1200265/

but I believe it has stalled. I can't remember when I read that particular news article involving the Moores, but it was sometime ago. I haven't heard anything new about this project for quite a while now.

Edited by RivenWinner, 26 January 2009 - 08:30 PM.

[plankattack]

Like Batman before it, Val Kilmer seems to have killed The Saint franchise.

We might have to add Knight Rider to that list!!!

[jaguar007]

Watch for the sign of THE SAINT

He will be back!

[Daddy Bond]

Watch for the sign of THE SAINT

He will be back!

I'm already here.

[Matt_13]

Watch for the sign of THE SAINT

He will be back!

I hope so!

[TheSaint]

Val Kilmer hurt The Saint but he didn't kill him.

[dinovelvet]

Like Batman before it, Val Kilmer seems to have killed The Saint franchise.

We might have to add Knight Rider to that list!!!

Yeah but Val was doing the world a favour this time

[Simon]

Don't the copyright holders quite know how to adapt the character, or is it some copyright issue by itself?

To be frank, I think the answer is in your question.

If you are familiar with the books, the closest a screen adaptation has come to capturing Charteris' character was in the first three or four b/w RKO films, and since then the character has veered further and further away from anything Charteris had in mind.

Why such dedication towards 'reimagining' the Saint is considered is beyond me when there has yet to be a faithful adaptation from which to reimagine in the first place. Try 'imagining' first, and then reimagine.

I think the Purefoy film had Templar being part of a gang of people or some such - at this stage I am happy if it never comes to light.

[David_M]

Actually, George Clooney has accepted credit for killing the Batman franchise (though to be fair he had a LOT of help from Joel Schumacher).

I'd love to see a return to the big screen for Simon Templar, if for no other reason than to get the books back in print. But the way that Purefoy thing was shaping up, it's probably just as well the plug was pulled. The Saint should never be an operative for a larger organization.

[Safari Suit]

Val Kilmer hurt The Saint but he didn't kill him.

Same with Batman, and that goes if you substitute Kilmer with Clooney, Schumacher or anyone else. A character who has just featured in the most culturally omnipresent film of the decade aint dead!

[Bond Bombshell]

The lack of info on the net, especially from the main Saint sources, made me suspect that the new Saint project was probably dead. However, there is this from an event featuring Sir Rog in Melbourne on November 25th last year.

http://permissiontok...-in-church.html

"An interesting tidbit that was revealed is that the new Saint project is going forward – Sir Roger didn't mention any cast members – but did say filming was to begin in January. He also alluded to having a cameo in the production! Time will tell."

As there are only a few days left in January, I guess this isn't going to happen. Maybe they're having trouble replacing Purefoy. I'll believe it when I see it.

[Ian Dickerson]

It's currently in pre-production. Sony are distributing it and negotiations are ongoing with an interested US network. There's major international interest as well.

The lead hasn't yet been cast but discussions are ongoing with a well-known actor.

The script is shaping up quite nicely--I'm delighted to say the less Saintly aspects of the planned Purefoy production have been ditched.

If everything comes together it should go before the cameras within the next couple of months.

Ian

[marktmurphy]

Hello Mr. Dickerson; I believe you more than know your Saint!

Your news sounds promising- I was worried from the get-go with the Purefoy one because they didn't have a distributor before they started. This sounds a little better although I would be more confident if it was actually being commissioned by a broadcaster... still- glad to see there's enthusiasm for it out there and best of luck to them.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Has anyone bought "The Best Of The Saint" vol 1 and/or vol 2? I'm curious what Sir Roger has to say in his intro to vol 2.

[rogermoore007]

Watch for the sign of THE SAINT

He will be back!

May I introduce...Simon Templar...do do do do do do dooooo

[David_M]

Has anyone bought "The Best Of The Saint" vol 1 and/or vol 2? I'm curious what Sir Roger has to say in his intro to vol 2.

Something about his kidney stones, no doubt.

Just kidding, Rog. I love you.

I haven't got the books yet, but plan to. I was reading the reviews on Amazon and was amused to see the ones saying, "You're better off reading all the novels in order instead of these anthologies." Undoubtedly this is true, but seeing as how I haven't seen a new printing of a Charteris novel in a bookstore in decades, it's not the most helpful advice. The prospect of building a library of Saint novels from eBay auctions isn't all that appealing to me.

[Simon]

I'm sure abebooks.com or .co.uk would make an easier job of it.

[crheath]

Last I heard, Roger Moore and his son Geoffrey were working on a new TV series for The Saint. They were going to serve as consultants/producers. That project is still listed here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1200265/

but I believe it has stalled. I can't remember when I read that particular news article involving the Moores, but it was sometime ago. I haven't heard anything new about this project for quite a while now.

I just looked that up. Barry Levinson the director????

[Ian Dickerson]

Has anyone bought "The Best Of The Saint" vol 1 and/or vol 2? I'm curious what Sir Roger has to say in his intro to vol 2.

Similiar stuff to what he said in his autobiog.

Ian

Last I heard, Roger Moore and his son Geoffrey were working on a new TV series for The Saint. They were going to serve as consultants/producers. That project is still listed here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1200265/

but I believe it has stalled. I can't remember when I read that particular news article involving the Moores, but it was sometime ago. I haven't heard anything new about this project for quite a while now.

I just looked that up. Barry Levinson the director????

Yeah, you can forget that--it ain't true any more. But I won't update the imdb listing until contracts are actually signed...

Ian

I haven't got the books yet, but plan to. I was reading the reviews on Amazon and was amused to see the ones saying, "You're better off reading all the novels in order instead of these anthologies." Undoubtedly this is true, but seeing as how I haven't seen a new printing of a Charteris novel in a bookstore in decades, it's not the most helpful advice. The prospect of building a library of Saint novels from eBay auctions isn't all that appealing to me.

Funnily enough I wanted to put some of the novels in the anthologies but the publishers weren't having it. But Leslie did write more short stories than novels so I can understand their point of view.

But The Saint Club has plenty of Saint books for sale if you're interested...

Ian

[jaguar007]

Since we are talking about The Saint, I thought I would post a picture of my son Simon (wonder where I got that name) and a car that mostly sits in my garage.

[Ian Dickerson]

Brilliant!

[Blofeld's Cat]

Has anyone bought "The Best Of The Saint" vol 1 and/or vol 2? I'm curious what Sir Roger has to say in his intro to vol 2.

Similiar stuff to what he said in his autobiog.

Ian

Cheers, Ian.

[Eurospy]

Jaguar007 - I'm going to steal your car. Someday, someway, somehow. I WANT IT!!


Dickerson - so you're saying that Simon being part of the Knights Templar has been ditched? Phew... And what about Purefoy? Since you seem to be in the know, why did he drop The Saint in favour of The Philantropist, something that seems to flow in the same kind of river, so to speak?

And BTW I read on the net about a script being included in one of the Sain't DVD packages (The Return of The Saint perhaps) called Prince of Darkness, where The Saint battled...vampires?! Could anyone tell me what that was supposed to be about?

Edited by Eurospy, 08 February 2009 - 06:10 PM.

[Ian Dickerson]

Dickerson - so you're saying that Simon being part of the Knights Templar has been ditched? Phew... And what about Purefoy? Since you seem to be in the know, why did he drop The Saint in favour of The Philantropist, something that seems to flow in the same kind of river, so to speak?

And BTW I read on the net about a script being included in one of the Sain't DVD packages (The Return of The Saint perhaps) called Prince of Darkness, where The Saint battled...vampires?! Could anyone tell me what that was supposed to be about?

Unless things get seriously delayed Mr Purefoy is unlikely to be picking up the halo. Indeed an offer is out to another well known actor to star as ST. As for why he dropped The Saint...well there were some political elements going on that I can't elaborate on here and now, but one day I really hope I can tell the story behind the making of this version of the Saint. There's more intrigue and double-dealing than in your average soap opera.

Prince of Darkness was a script written by Stephen Kandel for Return of the Saint that had the Saint smiting vampires and was considered by Messrs Charteris, Ogilvy and Baker to be unSaintly so never made it into production. A pdf of the sript is on Network's box set of ROTS.

Ian

[marktmurphy]

I'm no Saint expert, but I did catch a bit of an episode the other day which saw Roger battling giant ants!

[ACE]

To those in the know, who is the Simon Templar character from the books?
What is he like? Is he different to the filmed interpretations?

Secondly, an acquaintance of mine who knows this character suggests that George Saunders was probably the best Saint.

What do those that know think?

Who was best out of (the principal filmic Saints):
Louis Hayward
George Sanders
Hugh Sinclair
Roger Moore
Ian Ogilivy
Simon Dutton
Val Kilmer?

Who would be a good future Saint?

Hugh Grant
Hugh Jackman
Clive Owen
Pierce Brosnan
Geoffrey Moore
any other?

[TheSaint]

I'm biased towards Roger's interpretation but, with the exception of Kilmer's take, I think all of the other actors listed did great work.

As for future Saints, Hugh Grant would make a better Brett Sinclair than Simon Templar. Pierce would've been a perfect Saint after the Bond deal fell through in '86. As for Jackman, Owen, and Geoffrey, I'd be willing to give them a chance.