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UPFRONTS 2013: TV Spinoffs’ Almost Perfect Year 
EXCLUSIVE: Buffy The Vampire Slayer alumna Eliza Dushku is set to co-star opposite Adam Rayner in The Saint, a backdoor pilot from Brad Krevoy’s film and TV production company MPCA. No network has been attached. Simon West is directing the pilot from a script by Jesse Alexander. Alexander is set as showrunner of the project, a new take on
Leslie Charteris’ The Saint 70-book franchise. It will follow the exploits of Simon Templar (Rayner), a brilliant criminal who uses his considerable illicit skills as a modern-day Robin Hood as he infuriates local law enforcement and woos Patricia Holm (Dushku), his on-again, off-again romance.
Related: Adam Rayner Lands Lead In ‘The Saint’ Remake
Roger Moore, who played Templar in Lew Grade’s popular 1962 Saint British TV series, has joined as a co-producer along with with his son Geoffrey Moore, Lulu Moore, and Louisa Macdonald. Author Ian Dickerson, an expert on the history of Charteris’ creation, will serve as a creative consultant. Krevoy, Alexander, and Roman Viaris will executive produce and have teamed with Silverscreen Pictures in Los Angeles and Canadian producer Fred Fuchs to start production on Friday in Los Angeles, Toronto, and London. The backdoor pilot is being cast by Mandy Sherman and Sari Knight of Sherman/Knight casting (Lost). MPCA’s TV division is backing the project through independent financing, with the company’s Francisco J. González handling international sales and Michael MacDermott handling product placement. The Saint has been adapted to 15 feature films, most recently in 1997 by Paramount with Val Kilmer in the lead.
Dushku, who also toplined the cult Fox drama Dollhouse, is repped by The Collective, UTA and attorney Ryan Levine. The Saint is repped by CAA, the Charteris estate is repped by attorney David Wardlow.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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That’s SIR Roger Moore to you, Ms.
There’s no way you can Americanize The Saint. It is quirky and British through and through, like Monty Python. This is doomed to failure like the Val Kilmer film.
The George Sanders films were very successful- and made by Hollywood.
Actually, a good deal of Simon Templar’s adventures (both in the books and the TV series, as well as the films) are set in the US – and several of the recurring characters are American. Also, unlike Kilmer the leading man on this occasion is a British actor.
Quite a lot of us through and through Americans are every bit as keen on Britain and it’s fruit. If only we could all just forgive each other for that whole tea/revolution fiasco, we’d see just how much heritage has transcended the Atlantic, ESPECIALLY via entertainment. Like, oh say, Sherlock Holmes, for the obvious, Punk Rock, and as infuriated as you hoighty-toits were at the time, Bridget Jones’ Diary. Never to be forgotten my favorite author of all timed is mandated in our schools as well as Poe. Interesting that a founding nation of the same spoken language could try and pass their biggotry for incompatability….
Seriously? We need to call a guy Sir for being knighted for being a mediocre, cheesy actor? What’s next, Sir Shia LeBouef?
Actually, Sir Roger was knighted for the EPIC amounts of charity work he’s done.
Actually, Sir Roger was awarded the KBE for his substantial and tireless charity efforts for UNICEF.
He was the longest serving actor in the role of James Bond, the longest continuous movie franchise (and the most British). If that doesn’t count as a great service to the British Empire I don’t know what does. On top of that though, he’s also been the celebrity goodwill ambassador for UNICEF since 1991, so he’s done a lot for charity as well.
Doesn’t sound like anyone’s trying to “Americanize” The Saint either. Rayner is English, and the character of Patricia Holm goes back to Charteris’ earliest original novels about the character. It’ll be nice to see her added to the mix again in an updated form.
Well said, Jack. Roger Moore fully deserves his KBE, both for his amazing contributions to charity through his UNICEF work, AND for his lasting contributions to the arts and to British industry through not only his record Bond run, but also his TV work. Since we’re talking about The Saint anyway, it’s worth pointing out that the series was a huge international hit. And The Persuaders!, a later show that teamed him up with Tony Curtis, was also excellent, though sadly not the same international success. (It was trounced by Mission: Impossible in America on Saturday nights.) Moore’s a classy guy and a great actor in the right kind of role. And his involvement with this incarnation of The Saint is very encouraging, given his past success with Charteris’ iconic character. I can’t wait to see this, and I hope it goes to series!
He was knighted for his work with UNICEF as far as his acting goes
he was also a delight his Bond films were fun not this ugly little mouse (Danny) who you all think is so great.
Bottom line he made more money then any of us will ever see.
They are idiots. This would be much better if Eliza played the Saint instead of Simon she would be Simone Templar the daughter of Simon.
Like that idea
I would actually watch this. Dushku, whilst also suffering from some pigeonholing, is made for these kinds of roles.
Talk about bad acting she’s about the worst
I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but I think that because Dushku’s shortcomings as an actress caused her to get upstaged by *everyone* else on Dollhouse, she really needs to take some acting lessons before she’s allowed to be the title lead of a show or movie again. Heck, her guest shot on a certain hit sitcom a season or two ago shows that, if anything, what little acting ability she had beyond hitting her marks has declined precipitously since Dollhouse ended.
Making the Saint a woman is probably the lamest idea I have heard regarding this project. It’s just so desperate and… OBVIOUS. “Hey guys, howabout Die Hard with a woman!” That sort of thinking is just lazy “how can I get a paycheck” thinking. But I’m sure it served some folks well in the direct to dvd world of the 90′s.
God no. The only reason I’ll give this a try is because she’s NOT the Saint.
Roger Moore will needed for a Guest-Apperances in the first episode!
Er Sir Roger Moore for humanitarian work.
Sir Roger was knighted for his work with UNICEF
Yawn another update/rehash/remake. I’m like The Saint above, at least make Dushku the titular Saint. Or better yet, keep it British.
Gotta agree with the last poster: This would be more interesting if Dushku was playing The Saint.
Lots of negativity on this site lately. I have liked Adam Rayner in the things I have seen him in and I think the chemistry between Rayner and Dushku could be good. I will give this a chance.
Honest question here: why is this considered a backdoor pilot as opposed to a traditional pilot? The article doesn’t mention it being an episode of a currently airing TV show (which is how the term “backdoor pilot” is generally used… such as Rain Wilson’s “Office” spinoff.
And I agree with the posters that said this would be more interesting if Dusku were the Saint. I know nothing about Adam Rayner, I just think the twist of a female criminal at the center of the action sounds like it’s ripe with more possibilites.
I was just about to ask that too. NCIS LA (backdoor pilot). This, not one
Glad to see Dushku making a comeback. Yeah, it may be a little strange to see her play the hero’s girlfriend but it could be a Lois& Clark thing. Like to see her come back to Big Bang though. We never got any scenes with her and Kaley Cuoco together.
Nice to hear Sir Roger is involved. Had the pleasure of meeting him a few weeks ago at his NYC “Bond on Bond” book signing. Nice man, patient and polite with hundreds of fans who showed up for the signing. Also add the book is a good one, with great behind-the-scenes pics. Wish Sir Roger would write a book about “The Saint”.
While I will never meet Sir Roger, I will say that after recently seeing him interviewed by that British guy on CNN I wish him all the best.
Hmmm I thought a “Backdoor Pilot” was something completely different than this!
The Saint Co-Produce by Roger Moore would be great. But since the polit has not been shot and green lighted as of yet the press relases are a bit to premature.
I’d love to see Eliza Dushku in a ‘back door pilot’. Mnnnnnnnn
No network? Please tell me it won’t be one of those shows you only ever find on obscure channels in foreign hotels. Charteris deserves better.
That sounds interesting to me. It would be great if Anthony Stewart Head could be in this show!
Souls,
The idea of a female Saint has nothing to do with the character of Simon Templar.
As for the idea of a new Saint project involving the character, I love the idea of including Patricia Holm. Her presence suggests the project will be more true to the Simon Templar character than some of his interpretations.
I sincerely hope this project works out and is enjoyable, especially since new generations of fans could be intorduced to one of the most unique, fun characters in fiction.