On the hunt for more potential action franchises, Paramount is now hoping for blessings from The Saint, which the studio last tried to launch in 1997 with Val Kilmer starring. The company has bought up the rights to Leslie Charteris for a new film.
Charteris' books, which were published between 1928 and 1963 (others both with and without the author's input arrived in the 1980s and 90s), focus 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. The concept has spawned radio dramas, comic strips and the 1960s TV version, which starred Roger Moore in his pre-Bond days as Templar. The 1997 Kilmer film did decent business but wasn't given the warmest critical reaction (this was our review back then) and failed to spur other films.
Paramount is looking to gather the likes of Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Robert Evans and more as producers to shepherd this one, but it's still early days.