RKO Pictures is set to revive “The Saint” franchise and have hired Travis Wright (“Eagle Eye”) to pen a script which they hope will be the first film in a possible trilogy reports Variety.
Leslie Charteris penned the book series starting in the late 1920’s. They followed Simon Templar, a thief who sees himself as a modern day Robin Hood as he steals from only other criminals – corrupt politicians, arms dealers, drug runners, white slavers and so on.
The property has been adapted many times before, most famously as a long-running 60’s British TV series with Roger Moore in the title role. Phil Noyce directed a film adaptation in 1997 starring Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue, while Ian Ogilvy and Simon Dutton portrayed the character on the small screen in the 70’s and 80’s respectively. Even Vincent Price voiced the character for radio serials.
RKO’s version however will be based on three of the nine ‘Saint’ films in their library from the 30’s and 40’s. George Sanders, Louis Hayward and Hugh Sinclair played the role in those films. Which three films specifically is unknown.
Rick Porras, a second unit director on “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, is producing with Vanessa Coifman.
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