Vin Diesel to play 'Kojak'

Film adaptation of 70's cop drama will be written by 'Skyfall's' Neal Purvis and Robert Wade

By Corwin Neuse Dec 17, 2012 7:39PM

According to Deadline, Universal has hired the suddenly in-demand writing team of Neal Purvis and Robert Wade ("Skyfall") to write the screenplay for their forthcoming "Kojak" adaptation, starring Vin Diesel. Will audiences buy Diesel playing a good guy, and—moreover—a cop? Well, Diesel is bald, which seems to be half the battle for this particular character.

Purvis and Wade will, of course, be tasked with updating the plot and action for the 21st Century, which we assume means incorporating GPS-enabled smart phones and giving Kojak Facebook and Twitter accounts. The only things that might stay the same? It seems safe to assume the writers won't mess with Kojak's characterization too much. He could probably even wear the same clothes he wore in the 70's, since retro is the new vintage, or whatever the hipsters are saying nowadays.

What do you think, Hitlisters? Is a "Kojak" movie a good idea? Is Vin Diesel the perfect fit for that character? Is vintage the new vintage? Are Purvis and Wade good choices to write—lest we forget, the also wrote "Die Another Day" and, uh, "Johnny English," which means they've been in secret agent mode pretty exclusively—or was "Skyfall" kind of boring? As always, let us know in the comments...

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Best

Dec 18, 2012 4:41PM

I think that the classic television series' should be left alone and not re-made into movies that are not worth the price of popcorn. Great examples: Wild Wild West, Starsky And Hutch, S.W.A.T., Miami Vice...oh, and Dukes Of Hazard.

Previous replies

Yeahright 12345

Dec 18, 2012 5:42PM

I think he's a good fit for the character. However, I think Kojak should be left in the past... do we really need another remake? Leave it alone! Are there no new, original thoughts in Hollywood any more?

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Original Grey Ghost 1

Dec 18, 2012 5:23PM

I AGREE 100% WITH 3SHEETS COMMENT! WILL SMITH AS JAMES WEST BEING THE WORST DECISION IN MOVIE HISTORY!

AND STARSKY AND HUTCH SUCKED! NOTHING LIKE THE ORIGINAL! BEN STILLER AS STARSKY? PATHETIC!THE OTHER GUY

AT LEAST LOOKED LIKE HUTCH BUT WAS TOO SHORT. ANYWAY PROBLEM WITH VIN AS KOJAK IS THAT TELLY SAVALAS

COULD ACT! THE MAN WAS IN ONE OF THE GREATEST TWILIGHT ZONES EVER AND KELLY'S HEROES! ENOUGH ALREADY!

Previous replies

millerb1220

Dec 18, 2012 7:26PM

it could work if they do as good a job as i thought they did on shaft with a good cast . vin cant act so youll need 3 or for descent actors to hide him ......maybe get ving rhames instead i could def see him with a dum dum hangin out his mouth an hes a more beleaveable tough guy cop.....might be little old for it now thow