Dino De Laurentiis Brings Us: The MacGYVER Movie

[mr.brighteyes]

Merrick here...

Dino and Raffaella De Laurentiis are working with New Line to realize the long-rumored MacGYVER movie.

The marching orders for this one may be enough to spontaneously lobotomize even the heartiest of scribes:


The Fonzie produced series ran from 1985-1992 on ABC, followed by two TV movies a few years later.

New Line is using twine, bubble gum and a pencil to throw "MacGyver" into development as a feature film.

Raffaella De Laurentiis, daughter of Dino De Laurentiis, is producing through her Raffaella Prods. along with Martha De Laurentiis and series creator Lee Zlotoff.

Dino De Laurentiis is exec producing.

"MacGyver" was a science-oriented adventure series that ran from 1985-92 on ABC. Richard Dean Anderson, later of "Stargate: Atlantis" and "SG-1" fame, starred as an incredibly resourceful secret agent for the Phoenix Foundation who frequently would escape from dangerous situations with ingenious and lightning-quick engineering trickery.

Two telefilms starring Anderson aired in the years after the show's cancellation. The character eventually achieved enough cultural penetration to become a reference for anyone attempting to jury-rig a solution out of household items. "Saturday Night Live" took the concept to the next level with its spoofs "MacGruber," starring Will Forte.

No writer is attached, but the studio hopes to find a script that can acknowledge how the concept has staked a place into pop culture yet still makes for a serious and fun adventure movie.

"We think we're a stick of chewing gum, a paper clip and an A-list writer away from a global franchise," said New Line's Richard Brener, who will oversee with Sam Brown and Walter Hamada.
'MacGyver' getting revived as feature film
New Line developing pic based on ABC's 1985-92 series

By Borys Kit and Jay Fernandez

While I love the idea of a MacGyver movie It's going to be really hard to bring someone in to play the lead character.

That said absolute musts for the movie aside from. of course, MacGyver, are
Pete Thornton and the Phoenix Foundation
Jack Dalton, Cab Driver, Pilot, Con artist.
The Colton bounty hunter family.
Murdock Crazed international assassin that occasionally dresses up as a woman to allude the authorities.

[Sean Walsh]

I don't often get on the "I refuse to see this movie unless it's the original actor in the role" bandwagon, but this REALLY can't happen without Richard Dean Anderson as MacGuyver, now can it?

[Wolf-Man]

That's what we thought about James T. Kirk.

[mr.brighteyes]

I don't often get on the "I refuse to see this movie unless it's the original actor in the role" bandwagon, but this REALLY can't happen without Richard Dean Anderson as MacGuyver, now can it?

Oh I won't refuse to see it but yeah it would have to be nearly impossible to replace Richard Dean Anderson.

Kurt Russel and his amazing mullet could have played the character years ago but he's too old now and he's certainly to hard to play a nice guy like MacGyver. I really don't want this movie to be a spoof like the Brady Bunch movies and the Dukes Of Hazard movies.

I don't know if you could convince him to not ham it up but I could sort of see Owen Wilson attempting to fill the shoes of every bodies favorite Gadget man but even if he could play the role straight I don't know If I want him to.


A few years ago Jared Padalecki attempted to play young MacGyver (the son of the original, and the show didn't get picked up.



Craig Sheffer may be too old and he certainly isn't a name actor but he has a folksy charm and a kind disposition that could possibly play well with the older ladies who love Mac. The problem is the guy is kind of ugly.

[Jmacq1]

I'd be willing to give it a shot. RDA needs at least a cameo, though.

As long as they cast someone that can actually play clever and smart and seem like he's actually got something going on between his ears, this could be all right.

Though I'm kind of worried how MacGyver will translate to the big screen. Twist it too much and he just becomes James Bond without a gun. I'm really kind of hoping the keep the "nonviolent" angle to it all.

[Ed Sullivan]

I really like the Owen Wilson idea. I think he'd be perfect for the role.

[Lord of Denial]

Mac not being Richard Dean Anderson just seems plain freaking wrong to me.

But I will give it a shot if they get an actor that can bring everything to the role he did, Good Luck with that.

And Owen Wilson is the worst casting choice ever.

[maczero]

MacGuyver? Hollywood's really scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Anyway, why can't RDA reprise the role? I mean we felt comfortable with a nearly 70 year old Harrison Ford as Indiana.

[Lord of Denial]

MacGuyver? Hollywood's really scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Anyway, why can't RDA reprise the role? I mean we felt comfortable with a nearly a nearly 70 year old Harrison Ford as Indiana.

Actually an older Mac with RDA would be a big old fist full of win.

I'm down for that.

[ForeverTaskmaster]

MacGyver ain't got nothing on Michael Scofield. :-)

It's a good thing Padalecki didn't end up in MacGyver. Instead he ended up in the legendary awesome Supernatural.

[Infernorhythm]

I don't often get on the "I refuse to see this movie unless it's the original actor in the role" bandwagon, but this REALLY can't happen without Richard Dean Anderson as MacGuyver, now can it?

I agree. I mean, seriously, I usually have no problem with recastings, but RDA is MacGuyver. Can he just reprise the role?

[Bakasama]

Dino and Raffaella De Laurentiis are working with New Line to realize the long-rumored MacGYVER movie.

Dino De Laurentis?! As in the producer that bought the world, the 70's remake of King Kong, Flash (Aahh!) Gordon, and Lynch's DUUUUNE?! If the casting sucks, at least it should be a fun movie.

[Ed Sullivan]

And Owen Wilson is the worst casting choice ever.

NOPE!!!!!!

[StoneGold]

Is it even possible at this point not to do this as a spoof?


"What have I got?"

"Three paperclips, a copy of Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall" album on cassette and a bottle of Tabasco sauce."

[DonC]

Is it even possible at this point not to do this as a spoof?


"What have I got?"

"Three paperclips, a copy of Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall" album on cassette and a bottle of Tabasco sauce."

MacGruber, the Movie?