He's already the star of a couple of franchises, but if Paramount has his way, Chris Pratt will add another potential film series to his roster. The studio is in early – very early, if Deadline's sources are to be believed – talks with the actor to tackle a new film based on The Saint.
The story focuses on Simon Templar, a quick-witted, offbeat hero sort who goes after corrupt politicians, drug runners and the like, using disguises and his natural charm. He often uses aliases which share his initials, which doesn't seem like the smartest move for someone trying to stay secret, but that's hubris for you.
Despite Roger Moore's telly incarnation still retaining the crown as the iconic interpretation, the character was created by Leslie Charteris for a book series that ran between 1928 and 1963, with other authors stepping into help after that. A radio drama adapted the books in the 1940s, and then a couple of films. After that came the 1960s series, followed by a 1996 movie starring Val Kilmer that premiered to mixed reviews and failed to ignite a franchise.
Pratt feels like he could potentially a good fit for the character, though he'd bring a different type of charm to the role. Of course, his participation depends on a deal being made and that hasn't happened yet. He'll next be heard in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, due out on 8 February.
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