It looks like Johnny Depp can't walk across the street without stepping onto another script for a reboot of something or other, but at least this one he seems to be guiding personally: the actor, apparently a big fan of influential but short-lived 70's TV series Kolchak: The Night Stalker, has set up a feature-film remake of it at Disney, which today announced that Edgar Wright has stepped aboard to start shaping the project and eventually direct it, should the studio green-light it.
As Wikipedia describes the series (I'm not familiar with it myself):
Kolchak is a talented investigative reporter with an affinity for bizarre and supernatural occurrences, obtaining information driving around Chicago in his yellow Ford Mustang convertible and always snatching exclusives armed with his camera and portable cassette recorder.
Using only limited information, Kolchak has relentlessly cracked several cases relying on gut instinct and often prevailing through sheer dumb luck. But more often than not, Kolchak's prospects are hampered by the utter destruction of any or all evidence to prove his claims, thus advancing the sheer implausibility of his stories where his peers, particularly his editor, are concerned. On other occasions his investigations have led to demotion or relocation of varying authority figures, though reasons for these actions are never truthfully disclosed.
It's unclear at this point precisely when the project will be coming about: Wright is in line to make an Ant-Man movie at some point soon, and he's also announced that he's writing a new film with Simon Pegg, with whom he made Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz. The financial impact of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, the last movie he directed, which wound up being a decent money-loser for Universal, might affect his budget for this, but then, when Johnny Depp is starring in your movie, you can probably talk Disney into giving you what you want. No writer has been announced yet, but it's hard not to imagine that Wright might not wind up getting that job as well, given his history of directing his own screenplays.
I have to say that I'm a bit tired of seeing Johnny Depp do these odd adaptations, though; it's a trend that seems to have dominated the last half-decade of his career or so. I'm not saying this movie will be bad; just saying that I'd prefer to see more interesting failures like Public Enemies than a string of stuff like Alice In Wonderland and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and Dark Shadows, etc., etc.
I like Edgar Wright, Kolchak, and Johnny Depp but I am sort of tired of seeing him play these same types of characters. With that said he always gives a great performance and I'd really like to see him do other kinds of stuff because I really did quite like Public Enemies.
Edgar Wright - Yea
Johnny Deep - Ehh
OH GODDDAMNIT NO
FUCK YOU YOU FUCKING FUCKS.
Oh please God don't let this ever be made.
Finish the Blood and Ice Cream trilogy first, damnit.
Kolchak is on Netflix instant if anyone's interested. I've been meaning to check it out but I got side tracked by X-Files.
@SaturdayNightSpecials: Just curious why you say it. Is it because of Depp? Or are you a die hard fan of the original series?
Kolchak was a relatively decent show when it aired. Recall seeing late night reruns of it, was a bit of a cult thing on cable for awhile back in the day. The character actually has been adapted to comic book form by Moonstone Publishing out of Chicago.
Pointless trivia aside I'd see it, and it is interesting Depp is fond of the show, so that is pretty cool. Yet I can understand what Rorie is saying here. Well, Depp has found a bit of a niche so perhaps he just wants to continue with it and get paychecks, so not a bad thing. I'm not huge on Depp but I've enjoyed quite a bit of his movies so it doesn't matter too terribly much the types of roles he does.
Johnny Depp is boring.
Seems like a good idea. I remember seeing an episode of Kolchak once and thought it was cool. It pretty much is X-files before X-Files.
Think I saw this as a kid but can't really remember at the moment. I'm on board anything Edgar Wright does, so will def check this out if it comes to fruition.
I have a weird affinity for Kolchak. I used to watch it with my dad when it was on reruns on the SciFi channel in the 90s. It's pretty bad but really is impressive with hindsight. This show had a huge influence on X-Files and other similar shows. The actor who played Kolchak was even in a few X-Files episodes. I don't know if I like Depp for this part though. He's supposed to be bumbling and schlubby. If he was a little younger I'd go with Jeff Bridges maybe. Or let's get crazy and get Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
Also, I'd love to see this done as a period piece set back in the 70s.
I will have to see this because Edgar Wright never does anything wrong. Hopefully this wont change things
I'm glad Wright is getting another chance after Pilgrim bombed (I loved it). I'm hoping he can challenge Depp and take him out of the stupor he seems to have been in since the Pirates movies.
I remember watching the series when it first aired in the 70s. In one episode, Kolchak had to stay up all night long. As a nine year old, that one episode haunted me and I can still see Kolchak struggling to stay awake. It's weird how little things like that stick with you even after almost 40 years.
I never watched the 2005 series, so I don't know much about that. As for a movie version with Johnny Depp, cool I guess. I hope he doesn't bring too much Deppisms into the role.
I think the roles seems perfect for him but I'm not sure about the timing since Depp will be coming off Dark Shadows, another old paranormal TV show. I watched Kolchak back in the 70's and then again when Sci-Fi ran it due to the inspirational links it had to The X-Files. I think Depp would fit perfectly into the role, and who knows, it might kick off another franchise for him.
Never heard of this but Anything + Edgar Wright = Interested.
@MrPink said:
It's not that I dislike Depp, he's a good actor. It's just that he's completely wrong for this role.
Kolchak was somewhat eccentric, yeah, but he was never loopy and flamboyant like the characters Depp usually plays. Outside of his interest in the supernatural, he was pretty much a typical hard-nosed sarcastic reporter. I really can't see Depp bringing that same kind of gruff humor to the role. And without that, you kind of remove what was special about Kolchak in the first place: it was genuinely funny but still creepy when it needed to be.
i've been in love with edgar wright since spaced so ... yes, yes please
@SaturdayNightSpecials: You know I am tending to agree with that sentiment. I also don't dislike Depp but your points are quite spot on regarding Kolchak. I recall the series, and in fact the actor who played the role will forever in my mind be associated with it. Not that it is a bad thing, although I believe he is deceased but I say that because he did convey a type of gruff PI whom you knew hid a flask of "special juice" in his coat pocket. While Depp did portray a bit of a drunken lout in the Pirate movies, Kolchak wasn't a drunken lout but as you say, a gruff, down to Earth no BS type of dude who happened to investigate some weird ass stuff and the paranormal and treated it all "realistically" for lack of a better term.
Someone a bit sage and older would be adept for the role. I can't think of a specific actor off hand but yeah more I think about it Depp may not be the best choice, but I will take him if it means getting a decent movie version made.
I'm waiting for Johnny Depp as Tarzan and Zorro.