1078 replies to this topic

[Brisco]

There are many networks involved but no UK or USA ones. Yet.

The feedback from everyone has been encouraging but there is a distinct lack of commitment from both countries at the moment. I honestly think this is partly budgetary (one UK network said they had no development money but could buy it as an acquisition if we came back with the finished product) and partly because of the recent history of the character; TV executives seem to be like elephants and don't forget turkies like the Kilmer film, and the long drawn out Saga behind this current incarnation hasn't helped either...

Ian

I'm sorry to hear about the lack of commitment from American and UK networks. As much as I love the Transporter films (which are indeed a lot of fun), it's kind of depressing that that brand (which pretty much hinges on a single actor who's not involved) can launch a series in those territories, and a brand as venerable as The Saint cannot. Oh well. As long as other worldwide networks are involved enough to fund a pilot, hopefully the US and UK channels will get on board when they see it. At the very, very least, seeing this version should at least erase those memories of Kilmer from their minds... Good luck with this, Ian!

[Ian Dickerson]

I'm sorry to hear about the lack of commitment from American and UK networks. As much as I love the Transporter films (which are indeed a lot of fun), it's kind of depressing that that brand (which pretty much hinges on a single actor who's not involved) can launch a series in those territories, and a brand as venerable as The Saint cannot. Oh well. As long as other worldwide networks are involved enough to fund a pilot, hopefully the US and UK channels will get on board when they see it. At the very, very least, seeing this version should at least erase those memories of Kilmer from their minds... Good luck with this, Ian!

The problem has been that many of the potential partners want the brand but don't want the character. As I think I've said before that's one reason why this incarnation has taken so long; Bill MacDonald, in particular, is a fan of the original character, not the Moore Tv series or the Ogilvy show, and he believes that the core characteristics can be translated into the 21st century. And even though it looks like we're having to convince the executives of this one by one, we're getting there...

Ian

Nothing malicious here, Ian. Merely speculating that selling a 2011 version of Rog's Saint is/should be virtually impossible, and that the twists on the original of Clarke, Dutton and Kilmer are no more far reaching on the orginal than a 2011 version might need to be to remain viable as a product to potential investors.

No worries, but as you can tell I've already had my fill of uneducated hacks writing that this is a remake of Roger' show when it isn't. Indeed the first few lines of the show bible wot I wrote say, "Let’s make one thing clear from the outset; this is not a remake of a 1960s TV show. It’s also not a remake of a 1970s TV show, or 1980s, and is definitely not a remake of a 1940s series of B movie films.

This is a fresh adaptation based on the original books by Leslie Charteris. Call it a reimaging if you must but the distinction needs to be made so that we don’t encourage comparisons with previous incumbents. Oh, undoubtedly these comparisons will be made but let’s not support them. This is a new century, new actor, new life for the Saint. Let’s help him stand on his own two feet."

Ian

[jaguar007]

[ the first few lines of the show bible wot I wrote say, "Let’s make one thing clear from the outset; this is not a remake of a 1960s TV show. It’s also not a remake of a 1970s TV show, or 1980s, and is definitely not a remake of a 1940s series of B movie films.

This is a fresh adaptation based on the original books by Leslie Charteris.

Of course you will never be able to get around the "this is a remake of the Roger Moore TV series". Even if you get investors and producers to stop saying it, as soon as cameras are rolling, every press agent is going to say it. I can't tell you how many newspaper articles I read in 2006 that stated the EON Casino Royale is a remake of the 1967 Casino Royae

[Brisco]

[ the first few lines of the show bible wot I wrote say, "Let’s make one thing clear from the outset; this is not a remake of a 1960s TV show. It’s also not a remake of a 1970s TV show, or 1980s, and is definitely not a remake of a 1940s series of B movie films.

This is a fresh adaptation based on the original books by Leslie Charteris.

Of course you will never be able to get around the "this is a remake of the Roger Moore TV series". Even if you get investors and producers to stop saying it, as soon as cameras are rolling, every press agent is going to say it. I can't tell you how many newspaper articles I read in 2006 that stated the EON Casino Royale is a remake of the 1967 Casino Royale

Yeah, that happens again and again! I really don't get it when it comes to things adapted from books to begin with. Right now it's always happening with the new Conan movie. Granted, it doesn't help that the producers have decided to CALL it the same thing as the 1981 John Milius movie, but still, since they're both based on the same original source material (Robert E. Howard's books), why on earth should the press constantly assume that one is a remake of the other? That's like saying that The Dark Knight is a remake of Batman Forever, or that Quantum of Solace is a remake of Dr. No. They're simply different adaptations derived from the same series of novels or comics!!! Anyway. You're certainly right that no matter how hard Ian tries, people are always going to CALL it a remake, but that doesn't really matter if the material stands on its own. I love that opening to his show bible!

As for a new take, I've enjoyed every single take on The Saint to date (with the exception of Kilmer's) for different reasons, and I welcome any new version. Since I assume it's contemporary it won't be exactly Charteris' version, but that's more than OK. It can't be. It's a different medium; it's its own thing. And I think going back to the source material for inspiration is the best way to distinguish this "reinvention" or whatever you want to call it. It's not going to diminish our enjoyment of the original books or the Moore series or the Ogilvy one or even Clarke's or Marais', all of which I love for one reason or another. It's going to give us something new to enjoy just as much or more.

And thanks for clarifying, Ian, that "potential partners want the brand but don't want the character." That makes a lot of sense. I mean, the fact that they want the brand but not the character doesn't make sense, but your explanation makes sense! It's a shame, but not surprising, I guess. And right back to your earlier Marple point. Hopefully you'll manage to set them straight. I really think Purefoy is ideal!

[Royal Dalton]

As long as he doesn't play it with a broad Somerset accent he'll be fine. A much better choice than the dour Dougray Scott, anyway.

[Binyamin]

Part of the problem with getting interest for this: It's been done before. Current shows like Burn Notice and Leverage, and even the current Batman remakes all have Saint qualities. "A cool playboy who helps people." Most people don't know about the history, or don't care. They'll say, ah, we've heard this tune before. How is it different?

Edited by Binyamin, 17 April 2011 - 04:02 AM.

[Ian Dickerson]

Part of the problem with getting interest for this: It's been done before. Current shows like Burn Notice and Leverage, and even the current Batman remakes all have Saint qualities. "A cool playboy who helps people." Most people don't know about the history, or don't care. They'll say, ah, we've heard this tune before. How is it different?

That thought has been uppermost in our minds throughout this long saga. It has to be able to stand seperately from the likes of Burn Notice, Leverage and White Collar.

As I said in an earlier post "This is a Saint who is a gentleman, who does have fun with his adventures, who is flippant but is also a killer when the occasion calls for it. This is a Saint who does the wrong things for the right reasons, a Saint who sees that there are some people on this earth who will be greatly improved by death.". This is a Saint who preferes wits to weapons, who has a great sense of humor and who also has a great sense of justice; someone who likes tweaking the nose of the pompous and doing the unexpected. The one good thing about the Saint is the wide range of stories you can tell; it doesn't have to be stuck in any one niche and one week can be a spy story, the next week a heist and the week after something completely different.

Differentiating it from the competeition is something we're continuously working on, and so far the feedback from the potential buyers is that we're doing okay.

Ian

[Dustin]

I wonder - will this new Saint be a person with some kind of ... personality issue? Doing the wrong things for the right reasons, that implicates also doing the right things for the wrong reasons. I remember a scene from BBC's Sherlock where Cumberbatch is about to swallow a pill on the 50:50 chance of it being poinson. For no other reason than it's exciting and you've got to spend your evenings some way, don't you? I found that an incredibly strong moment, revealing much more then we usually get to see from a character so iconic as Sherlock Holmes. I wonder if it wouldn't perhaps be interesting to explore The Saint's motivation for his life of danger and excitement? Obviously, it's most exciting and satisfying. But it must also have its downsides and I would like to see more about why he chose to live his live the way he does. And I think it's essential that it was his own decision, that he wasn't forced into it, that he just made a calculation of what counts for him the most and went for it without regrets.

[Jackanaples]

Part of the problem with getting interest for this: It's been done before. Current shows like Burn Notice and Leverage, and even the current Batman remakes all have Saint qualities. "A cool playboy who helps people." Most people don't know about the history, or don't care. They'll say, ah, we've heard this tune before. How is it different?

That thought has been uppermost in our minds throughout this long saga. It has to be able to stand seperately from the likes of Burn Notice, Leverage and White Collar.

As I said in an earlier post "This is a Saint who is a gentleman, who does have fun with his adventures, who is flippant but is also a killer when the occasion calls for it. This is a Saint who does the wrong things for the right reasons, a Saint who sees that there are some people on this earth who will be greatly improved by death.". This is a Saint who prefers wits to weapons, who has a great sense of humor and who also has a great sense of justice; someone who likes tweaking the nose of the pompous and doing the unexpected. The one good thing about the Saint is the wide range of stories you can tell; it doesn't have to be stuck in any one niche and one week can be a spy story, the next week a heist and the week after something completely different.

Differentiating it from the competition is something we're continuously working on, and so far the feedback from the potential buyers is that we're doing okay.

Ian

Everything that makes Simon Templar different from other heroes is right there. I so want to see this new series of THE SAINT become a reality.

[Capsule in Space]

Everything that makes Simon Templar different from other heroes is right there. I so want to see this new series of THE SAINT become a reality.

That is what I want to see too, Jack. I also want to see it done right. I want it to be successful like Sir Roger's series was. His was a nice 7 year run that spanned an entire decade. For that to happen they have got to get the lead right like ITV did with Sir Roger back in the 1960's. However, Sir Roger didn't do it alone. The new series will need an excellent producer like Robert Baker, directors like Val Guest and Peter Hunt, and writers like Terry Nation. I hope whoever takes this series over takes to time to find the right people.

[Jackanaples]

By my way of thinking, Ian's description sounds like the premise for tv series even closer to Charteris and stronger all round than 1960's series starring Roger Moore (which I also enjoy).

[marktmurphy]

The feedback from everyone has been encouraging but there is a distinct lack of commitment from both countries at the moment. I honestly think this is partly budgetary (one UK network said they had no development money but could buy it as an acquisition if we came back with the finished product)

Yeah, ITV have been having a bit of trouble recently.

Part of the problem with getting interest for this: It's been done before. Current shows like Burn Notice and Leverage, and even the current Batman remakes all have Saint qualities. "A cool playboy who helps people." Most people don't know about the history, or don't care. They'll say, ah, we've heard this tune before. How is it different?

True, I wonder about that too.

[Simon]

Everything that makes Simon Templar different from other heroes is right there. I so want to see this new series of THE SAINT become a reality.

I want it to be successful like Sir Roger's series was. His was a nice 7 year run that spanned an entire decade.

8 years.

[Ian Dickerson]

Everything that makes Simon Templar different from other heroes is right there. I so want to see this new series of THE SAINT become a reality.

I want it to be successful like Sir Roger's series was. His was a nice 7 year run that spanned an entire decade.

8 years.

Nope, more like 6.5 years if you want to be pedantic and go on first broadcast dates (Talented Husband first aired 30th September 1962, World Beater first aired 9th Feb 1969).

Production started in the summer of 1962, last day of production was 16th August 1968. Which was closer to six years than seven.

Ian

[Jim]

Almost as long a time as this thread's been going.

[Simon]

Everything that makes Simon Templar different from other heroes is right there. I so want to see this new series of THE SAINT become a reality.

I want it to be successful like Sir Roger's series was. His was a nice 7 year run that spanned an entire decade.

8 years.

Nope, more like 6.5 years if you want to be pedantic and go on first broadcast dates (Talented Husband first aired 30th September 1962, World Beater first aired 9th Feb 1969). Production started in the summer of 1962, last day of production was 16th August 1968. Which was closer to six years than seven.

I must admit to being clever, in a purely non-clever way.

But it was more to highlight that the previous chap had subtracted 2 from 9 to equal 7. Whereas, it is true to say that eight years were encompassed in broadcast dates. Do we say there was a two and a half year gap between Golden Gun and Spy, or do we say three?

However, I bow to your pedant-ship. And your knowledge.

[Capsule in Space]

Everything that makes Simon Templar different from other heroes is right there. I so want to see this new series of THE SAINT become a reality.

I want it to be successful like Sir Roger's series was. His was a nice 7 year run that spanned an entire decade.

8 years.

Nope, more like 6.5 years if you want to be pedantic and go on first broadcast dates (Talented Husband first aired 30th September 1962, World Beater first aired 9th Feb 1969). Production started in the summer of 1962, last day of production was 16th August 1968. Which was closer to six years than seven.

I must admit to being clever, in a purely non-clever way.

But it was more to highlight that the previous chap had subtracted 2 from 9 to equal 7. Whereas, it is true to say that eight years were encompassed in broadcast dates. Do we say there was a two and a half year gap between Golden Gun and Spy, or do we say three?

However, I bow to your pedant-ship. And your knowledge.

I got the "7 years" from the 1962-1969 time frame that I have seen associated with this series. Like Simon is saying, it might not be exactly that amount of time. The point I was trying to make was that I hope a news series would have a lengthy run like Sir Roger's did. Whether that is 7 years, 8 years, 6.5 years, etc. I'd be happy with a series that last past 4 seasons myself.

[Simon]

Whether that is 7 years, 8 years, 6.5 years, etc. I'd be happy with a series that last past 4 seasons myself.

I agree - thanks for bringing me back on track!

[killkenny kid]

Almost as long a time as this thread's been going.

[jaguar007]

So its seems to be official James Purefoy is back as Simon Templar aka The Saint.

The filming starts in July in New Orleans.

It is about bloody time ................ that the Saint is back I mean.

Sorry to not be the best optimist, but I'm not going to hold my breath until the camera actually starts rolling.

[Tybre]

So its seems to be official James Purefoy is back as Simon Templar aka The Saint.

The filming starts in July in New Orleans.

It is about bloody time ................ that the Saint is back I mean.

Hopefully things get somewhere this time.

[Capsule in Space]

So its seems to be official James Purefoy is back as Simon Templar aka The Saint.

The filming starts in July in New Orleans.

It is about bloody time ................ that the Saint is back I mean.

Sorry to not be the best optimist, but I'm not going to hold my breath until the camera actually starts rolling.

Me neither.

[jaguar007]

So its seems to be official James Purefoy is back as Simon Templar aka The Saint.

The filming starts in July in New Orleans.

It is about bloody time ................ that the Saint is back I mean.

Sorry to not be the best optimist, but I'm not going to hold my breath until the camera actually starts rolling.

Me neither.

Capsule, there are many things we don't agree on, it is sad and unfortunate we agree on this.

[Capsule in Space]

So its seems to be official James Purefoy is back as Simon Templar aka The Saint.

The filming starts in July in New Orleans.

It is about bloody time ................ that the Saint is back I mean.

Sorry to not be the best optimist, but I'm not going to hold my breath until the camera actually starts rolling.

Me neither.

Capsule, there are many things we don't agree on, it is sad and unfortunate we agree on this.

I just posted in threads where I agreed with some of your points! It is sad that we agree on this though.

[Capsule in Space]

James Purefoy has said that his Saint is ‘out to make mischief’.

I'll be happy if the Saint manages to make it on the airwaves.

[jaguar007]

James Purefoy has said that his Saint is ‘out to make mischief’.

I'll be happy if the Saint manages to make it on the airwaves.

amen

[Binyamin]

Surely there's a more catchy title than "The Saint in New Orleans?"



Although there is The Sequel...

"007 In New York and The Saint In New Orleans Meet in Albuquerque"

Edited by Binyamin, 11 May 2011 - 12:45 AM.

[Dekard77]

Sexy news that Saint is finally filming. Don't know why it's America rather than UK or Europe but I am down with anything at this point. Just hope it will be more suspense than action.

[Ian Dickerson]

Don't know why it's America rather than UK or Europe

Money. Basing it in America effectively gets us around twice the budget we would get in the UK.

Ian

[David Schofield]

Don't know why it's America rather than UK or Europe

Money. Basing it in America effectively gets us around twice the budget we would get in the UK.

Ian

Does that mean any concessions have to be made to Americanising the Saint, Ian?

Or do we still get sophisticated Brit abroad?

I remember Andrew Clarke and the Saint in Manhattan, a similar TV pilot: a sophisticated Brit, still, but all wrapped up in Thomas Magnum packaging...