NBC’s reboot of The Rockford Files failed to move forward as a TV series but now a feature film is in the works.
According to Deadline, David Levien and Brian Koppelman have been hired by Universal Pictures to write a Rockford Files movie, based on the 1974-80 TV series. The film is being developed as a star vehicle for Vince Vaughn. The actor and his older sister, Victoria Vaughn, will produce through their Wild West Picture Show Productions company which operates out of Universal.
James Garner stars in the original TV show as down-and-out private eye Jim Rockford. Created by Roy Huggins and Stephen J. Cannell, Rockford was a private eye who’d served time in San Quentin due to a wrongful conviction.
Unlike other detective characters of the day, Rockford was often disheveled, would use his charms and feet to get out of trouble, and wanted to make sure that he would get paid before taking on a client. His infrequent jobs as a private investigator barely allow him to maintain his dilapidated mobile home/office in a parking lot on the beaches of Malibu, California.
A pilot for a remake of the TV series was written and produced for NBC by House’s David Shore in 2010. Dermot Mulroney was cast as the title character but it was deemed that the pilot wasn’t strong enough to move forward as a series for the 2010-11 season. The project was given to Peter Berg to rewrite and produce but apparently hasn’t moved forward.
What do you think? Do you think Vaughn could pull off Jim Rockford? Who would you cast in the supporting roles as his father Rocky, friend Angel Martin, or Sgt. Dennis Becker?
Take a lesson from past remake attempts that have failed miserably! Don’t mess with Perfection! This needs no remake unless Garner was alive to play Rocky and you had an actor that could measure Garners talent and charisma for the part of Jim. Hollywood with all it’s money and supposed talent isn’t creative enough to think up new show themes instead they fall back on past winners! That is beyond pathetic! Leave TRF alone and allow that lighting in the bottle that made TRF so great to TV history! You will never match it and shouldn’t even try! Miss you… Read more »
I HOISTLY DON’T KNOW HOW WOULLD MAKE A GOOD JIM ROCKFORD BUT I DO KNOW THAT WITH 3 STARS IN THIS KNOWN FOR COMADY —- IT WILL BE BAD — THE ROCKFORD FILES WHERE NOT MENT TO BE FUNNY.
YOU WILL JUST RUIN IT JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER REMAKES.
pull this one, Jenifer Aniston as Bev D
Remaking the Rockford files is worth a shot if only to generate more interest in the original tv series so that it will be on every day, better yet three times a day so you can always get the right viewing time. That being said, clearly Vaughn is a fan and i’m all for that, one thing you have to admit is that he can play a very despicable character that you want to beat on, even James Garner was quick to point out that Rockford was a jerk, just so happens for Rockford fans, our kind of jerk. As… Read more »
No way, this is a classic and James garner is a class act, you can’t touch or remake perfection
I think george clooney would be a perfect James Rockford.
Absolutely one of my favorite shows of all time, and still revolutionary in many ways, such as a down on his luck detective, rather than being obviously successful and suave. Also, believe it or not, Rockford was the first TV hero (maybe protagonist is a better descriptor than hero) to get hurt when he hit SOMEONE ELSE! No, I do not think that Vaughn has it in him to pull off James Garners’ sardonic and sarcastic wit, nor will Vaughn be able to pull off Rockfords’ obvious intelligence and lackadaisical nature. However, here are my suggestions for the roles: Sharon’s… Read more »
Casting is clearly not your forte`
One of my favorite tv shows and my most favorite actor, James Garner…loved the Rockford Files. For the movie, how about Ryan Reynolds as James Rockford?
no no no. too young and no no no!
James Garner’s Rockford was a man’s man. Vince Vaughn is a large child. Zero interest in watching Vaughn trash a great character.
I loved Rockford Files, but the main charm was James Garner. He was a charming everyman. Vince Vaughn is not. You need a person everyone likes, not grates on you, so I will not be seeing this movie.
From a failed NBC pilot to a major motion picture? Talk about failing upwards! I don’t think Vaughn can pull off anything beyond mindless comedy, but we’ll see.
Why even go to the movies anymore? All Hollywood is doing is remaking one thing after another, adapting one tv show after another, reboots, unnecessary cash grab sequels, video game movies, etc. Nothing personal against Vince Vaughn, but I’m sick of this.
Thank you! This Critic has it right on!
One of my favorite shows of all time. Hope they don’t over-sex it and let him stumble like he did in the series.