James Purefoy as Simon Templar alias The Saint
As first reported here in December of 2007, James Purefoy is finally at last all set to play the new Simon Templar in the forthcoming TV series of The Saint. We may have jumped the gun a bit back in 2007, but we weren't wrong -- just early!
James Purefoy has written an introduction to Ian Dickerson's The Saint on TV, in which he talks about his forthcoming role as Simon Templar. Shooting is reported to be slated to start in July 2011 in New Orleans.
The newest version of The Saint is being produced William J. MacDonald, Geoffrey Moore (Sir Roger Moore's son), and Jorge Zamacona (most recently of "Oz"). Burl Barer, noted author of the continuing adventures of The Saint, has also been involved in the writing of the script, The Saint in New Orleans.
James Purefoy, who will play the new Saint, was screen tested for the role of James Bond in 1995 for Goldeneye, and throughout 2004 and 2005 Purefoy's name was rumoured as a possible candidate to replace Brosnan as agent 007 in future James Bond films. These rumors surfaced again before the 2006 film, Casino Royale. In December 2007, James Purefoy was first rumored to have been cast in the role of Simon Templar alias The Saint, and that was put on-hold due to production issues and his role in The Philanthropist. In 2011, it appears that Purefoy is coming back to the role of The Saint!
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However, Purefoy's casting could be very canny (indeed, in my humble opinion, he was the biggest missed opportunity for the 007 role in recent years, with all due respect to The Brozzer and Dan Craig). This could well be an interesting project to watch take shape...
To be very honest I've got a rather large Saint library so perhaps I am slightly more of a Charteris-fan than a Fleming fan.
The Saint in New Orleans is a Two-hour TV movie being produced by Cajun Pictures, with filming starting in July.
The movie is going to be directed by Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, White Men Can’t Jump and Tin Cup).
The screenplay has been written by William J. Macdonald and Burl Barer; and is loosely based on ‘The Sporting Chance’ plus additional Charteris material and characters.
Locations – err… New Orleans.
Geoffrey Moore is now an Executive Producer.
Sir Roger is definitely in the cast and Burl Barer has dropped hints that Ian Ogilvy may be in it as well – to use Burl’s words, ‘watch this space’.
Bill Macdonald is also the shows ‘runner’ (Guess that means script editor – if it goes to a full series).
The part of Patricia Holm is being cast.
James Purefoy has said that his Saint is ‘out to make mischief’.
We're all very excited about The Saint, and for all the latest news please follow @TheSaintClub on Twitter, read http://blog.saint.org/ or join the Saint Club's Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Saint-Club/6631852389
Erm, these folks tried the role before Roger...
Louis Hayward (Saint in New York, 1938)
Terence de Marney (Radio Saint, 1939 and 40)
George Sanders (RKO Saint, 1939 and on)
Leslie Charteris (Life Magazine, 1941)
Hugh Sinclair (RKO Saint, 1941)
Edgar Barrier (Radio Saint, 1945)
Brian Aherne (Radio Saint, 1945)
Vincent Price (Radio Saint, 1947 and on)
Barry Sullivan (Radio Saint, 1950)
Tom Conway (Radio Saint, 1951)
Larry Dobkin (Radio Saint, 1951)
Tom Meehan (Springbok Radio, 1953 to 1957)
Felix Marten (French Saint no. 1)
Ian
As for Leslie Charteris...........
I hope with the new movie coming out it becomes easier to find older Saint DVDs.
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And yes currently the news on the new show is non-existend for some reason even if Purefoy did a few interviews due to his new tv-show Injustice and kept mentioning the his part as the Saint.
I wish they started filming.
EXCLUSIVE: Exactly fifty years after the premiere of the British spy series The Saint, a remake is picking up steam with a pilot directed by Simon West. British actor Adam Rayner has been cast in the title role made famous by Roger Moore in the original series. The remake, produced by Brad Krevoy, is not set at a network yet. Written/executive produced by Jesse Alexander (Heroes), it is slated to begin shooting a pilot later this month. In the project, debonair international thief Simon Templar (Rayner), a modern day Robin Hood, steals from rich criminals and keeps the loot for himself. A master of disguise, improvisation, martial arts, firearms and espionage and the quintessential English gentleman, he is hired by certain government agencies for special assignments. The completed pilot is expected to be shopped to networks.
Rayner was last seen co-starring opposite Melissa George on the first season of the Cinemax/BBC spy drama Hunted, created by Frank Spotniz. He is repped by ICA Talent, IALA, Jamie Feldman in the US and Maxine Hoffman and Lara Beach in the UK. This is not the first stab at remaking The Saint on the small sceen. Four years ago, Moore was attached to produce a TV movie/backdoor pilot. Producers Barry Levinson, Tom Fontana, Bill MacDonald and writer Jorge Zamacona were behind the project, which had James Purefoy attached as the lead but ultimately didn’t get off the ground. Val Kilmer played Templar in the 1997 feature remake.
It seems that the character that put the suave in James Bond the movie character gets a new lease on life. WHich is about bloody time I would say.
:!!
But the information from above and the actor for lead sound not enough English too me, more like Burn Notice what mabey not be a bad thing but not under the name The Saint .
Mabey it wil work if there let do David Arnold the openings theme, Roger Moore ask to be on the set as producer and as inprovement on Bond there should filming on locations like The Netherlands, Belgium, Romania or middle east country other then Turkey. Also it wil be nice if Timothy Dalton, Lazenby and Pierce Brosnan get a cameo in episode.
NO F*cking DA L-) or his music near the Saint, the darn hack.
How on earth is he a 'modern Robin Hood' if he keeps the money himself? Stupid, self-contradictory press releases; they're seemingly all knocked off by hacks... :))