“As TV has become more like movies, movies have become more like TV,” Laika CEO Travis Knight said about the culture of remakes and sequels, and he’s spot on. While television has certainly experienced a creative renaissance in the past decade, that industry is also just as focused as its movie counterparts in exercising IP for maximum value. Lately, that has meant seeing countless shows based on movies headed to the small screen (such as “The Departed,” announced earlier today). And now, two TV shows based on beloved crime flick faves have found their lead actors.
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First up, “Get Shorty” —based on Elmore Leonard‘s book and the 1995 movie— will feature Chris O’Dowd and Ray Romano as Miles and Rick (those characters were played by John Travolta and Gene Hackman in the film). The series will air on Epix and will see Davey Holmes (“Shameless,” “In Treatment“) writing and executive producing. It will take place in Nevada and will follow a criminal who tries to go legit as a Hollywood producer.
Meanwhile Crackle has lined up Rupert Grint, Ed Westwick and Dougray Scott for a TV take on Guy Ritchie‘s “Snatch.” Nick Renton (“The Musketeers,” “Jericho”) will direct the ten-episode show centering on a group of twenty-something, up and coming hustlers who stumble upon a truck load of stolen gold bullion and are suddenly thrust into the high stakes world of organized crime. The boys must quickly learn to navigate the treacherous waters of London’s underworld as rogue cops, gypsy fighters, international mobsters and local villains descend.
Thoughts on these players and shows? Let us know below. Both “Get Shorty” and “Snatch” will debut in 2017.