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EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures has set David Levien and Brian Koppelman to write The Rockford Files, a feature adaptation of the memorable series that ran on NBC from 1974-80 and featured James Garner as the down-and-out private eye. The studio will develop the film as a star vehicle for Vince Vaughn to play Rockford, and Vaughn and Victoria Vaughn will produce through their Universal-based Wild West Picture Show Productions banner.
In the original series created by Roy Huggins and Stephen J. Cannell, Rockford was a private eye who’d spent a few years in San Quentin before being pardoned. He worked and lived out of a mobile home near the beach in Malibu, and unlike most of his TV detective peers, he dressed disheveled, and mostly used his charm and guile to talk his way out of trouble, instead of shooting. Vaughn certainly has that verbal dexterity. Universal’s sister network NBC has been trying to relaunch The Rockford Files as a TV series but put the brakes on it last year.
Vaughn just signed to re-team with his Wedding Crashers co-star Owen Wilson in the Fox comedy The Internship, and will next be seen alongside Ben Stiller and Jonah Hill in the Fox comedy Neighborhood Watch and the Stephen Frears-directed Lay The Favorite. As for Koppelman and Levien, their script Runner Runner was just greenlighted by New Regency with Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck starring for Lincoln Lawyer helmer Brad Furman. Vaughn and the scribes are repped by CAA. The scribes were lawyered by Karl Austen, who closed the deal for the estate of Huggins, creator of the Rockford character.
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Seriously?
Vaughn is far too imposing physically.
Owen Wilson would be far more appropriate for the role – and Allan Hawco of Canada’s CBC series Republic of Doyle [which is basically a Canadian take on The Rockford Files] would be perfect.
I don’t think owen wilson has enough grit to play Jim Rockford. While VV is 6’5″, garner was 6’1″-6’2″ so it’s not like he was a tiny guy, and he could kick some a$$ when he had to. I’m against re-makes especially if it’s a series I LOVE like rockford files, but the casting of Vaughn is probably the best they could make. I’d still rather they just put rockford files re-runs on the air instead of re-booting the franchise.
MeTV shows Rockford Files reruns every afternoon. It’s great!
I guess you’re unaware how imposing James Garner was. Always taller than other leading men in Hollywood (except Rock Hudson), Garner was 6 foot 1 and about 200 lbs.
He was a man’s man, unlike foppish weasel Owen Wilson. Vaughn is perfect casting: irascible, on edge, handsome, a comedic straight-man, just like Garner. I hated the idea until this Vaughn announcement. My only hope is that they don’t spoof it, a la Starsky & Hutch, but rather do a respectful, if funny, adaptation.
So you obviously have a stake in this deal and need vv to get the part. vv if cast will make sure that the movie will fail. vv is one dimensional. He plays himself every time. That’s fine in roles that don’t require acting which he is incapable of. He has no charm, is butt ugly and grates on people who don’t make money off his bad lounge act. Rockford was a mans man, vv wants to think he is, he isn’t. Nice try but get some good taste you Charlie the Tuna wannabe.
You can sorta see their thinking but… ew.
no new ideas for Hollywood. Pitiful. Vince Vaughn is unwatchable. Horrible idea
Forget to trying to replace Jim–won’t work for Mulroney and not for anyone else. Success seems likelier if the writers’ approach this as a vehicle for Jim’s NEPHEW operating in Rockford style. Maybe Vinny & Owen drop by and use Uncle Jim trailer or ask Jim a question when he’s fishing off the pier at Paradise Cove.
Not sure how I feel about this…I love Garner too much to see this happen. I’m on the fence…but leaning to the side of wtf and hell no.
This beats the NEED FOR SPEED project mentioned yesterday as dumbest idea of the week.
Universal brass need to fire themselves.
Gawd no. Please.
NBC produced a remake of Rockford starring Dermot Mulroney that died at the pilot stage, so let’s make it a movie instead! Ugh…….
Good god…does Universal have to announce they are devoid of any interesting ideas? This does it for them. I’m with the guy who says HELL NO.
No one can ever match Garner in this role, one of the all time great television characters. Anyone will pale in comparison.
I agree – no one can touch what James Garner did with the Rockford Files. This is a bad idea. How about creating a brand new movie idea? That would be novel.
This is yet another case of narrow Hollywood thinking.
Vince Vaughn could carry a humorous private eye movie with a good script and a reasonable budget.
However…
Slapping on the title of a beloved TV show that was centered so strongly around the specific charm and style of James Garner, will probably take a modestly successful project, and weigh it down with expectations and fan resentments that it probably couldn’t overcome.
But the title’s familiar, and if you’re in studio management familiarity is your snake oil of choice.
Worded perfectly!!! Thank you. I Love the “snake oil” line.
BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!
¿Por qué?!!!
Vince Vaughn is many things, but he’s no James Garner. The only bad thing about the original series was the “no violence policy” which meant for long drawn out car chases.
Vince Vaughn is many things??? Always seems like the same thing to me. Certainly no Jim Rockford.
You nailed it! He “plays” the same part every time, himself.
As Uni TV discovered with its aborted re-make, Rockford Files is a generic PI concept; what made it work was James Garner. There’s no high concept hook to play off that we haven’t seen many times since the series aired, and without Garner’s charm, this will be tough to pull off.
If I squint, I can kinda see Vaughn as Rockford. They’d have to tone down his natural tendencies. There’s a smarmy quality to Vaughn’s verbal jousting that doesn’t quite fit the part. Rockford wasn’t really smarmy.
And here’s why I rarely go to the movies anymore. There’s no point. It’s mostly sequels and remakes and reboots and snarky comedies and overwrought dramas.
The last two movies I saw in theatres was “The Help” in August and “The Artist” in February. And the latter didn’t do all that hot at the box office because it was actually something interesting but general audiences stayed away because it was a black & white silent movie with no boobs or explosions.
The REAL question is who will play Angel — if they do include him in the film.
That is definitely a make or break casting decision.
That’s a good idea. I’ll definitely see Vaughn in that role. And I haven’t even seen Vaughn’s last few movies. I also think the Interns movie sounds good too. Love Rockford Files.
This could work if there is a strong enough director to stop Vince Vaughn being Vince Vaughn and making the whole thing typically Vince Vaughn. Nah, you’re right, it’s not going to work at all, is it?
Owen Wilson? No way. Jim Rockford was a bit of a bad-ass…Owen Wilson is not.
I am so tired of these unoriginal ideas. Sure, every now and then they work, but this is just ridiculous.
Maybe James Garner would do a cameo? And Stuart Margolin (Angel)? Then I’d watch for sure!!
One of the best shows ever, but it was all Garner, writing and perfectly-cast characters. Hard to duplicate, let alone pay tribute to. 853-0KG!
First, I hate the idea that Universal is doing a remake of one of the classic tv shows. But, if I had to choose an actor . I would choose George Clooney ( very smug ) or Timothy Olyphant . Olyphant is the real deal , and he deserves big-time feature film success. Why isn’t Hollywood pursuing Timothy ?!
I agree about Timothy Olyphant, great dramatic actor who is also quite funny and charming. If Nathan Fillon wasn’t playing Castle I would put his hat in the ring as well
‘Dressed disheveled?’ Garner wore a sports coat in almost every episode, which in today’s Hollywood qualifies as ‘dressed up.’
True. A lot of browns and plaids! And they (realistically) repeated them often.
“Flies with Honey” “Flies with Honey” but…….R….U…….Jo….King???? Get the other Rockford Movies into circulation first. Vince Vaughn….loved you as Santa’s Brother. Please exit the building now, before it’s too late! This series was NOT just about James Garner. The whole team was magic. Please don’t mess with magic! Next they’ll be making After MASH…..oh…..nevermind…
What a great idea I can’t believe how ares me this movie is gonna be so, so, so FRESH and original!