- Man, you guys are GOOD! I came home from work today to find SIX e-mail messages from a bunch of loyal scoopers that informed us of this news: Special thanks go out to (In mailbox received order) HolyToads,Justin McGill,Alex Bogdan,Garett,Jay Gunn,and Jason Hambach. Funny thing is, Kevin actually mentioned that he’d be scripting Fletch 3 at the Rutgers appearance, we just forgot to mention it amongst all the confusion and other cool stuff we heard that night. Anyway, here’s the “official” story:
Kevin Smith To Write Third ‘Fletch’ Picture
By Chris Petrikin
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) – Chevy Chase is teaming up with independent filmmaker Kevin Smith for a third installment of thepopular “Fletch” films.
Chase, who starred in the 1985 original, as well as its 1989 sequel, “FletchLives”, is attached to reprise his role as the wise-acre, undercover crime reporter with a penchant for absurd disguises and pseudonyms.
Smith, the writer-director of the hit Miramax comedies “Clerks” and “Chasing Amy”, has signed a deal with Universal Pictures to write the script. He may also direct the film, which is going by the tentative title “Fletch 3.”
While Smith admits that he “learned to write dialogue” from Gregory McDonald’s series of “Fletch” novels, he told Daily Variety that his take on the third film will be based on his original idea rather than a specific book, as had been the case with the previous films.
He will move the main character, a die-hard Lakers fan, from his L.A. base to the East Coast, and will write it in the spirit of“The Third Man”.
He first will shoot “Dogma”, based on his original screenplay, and slated to go before the cameras for Miramax in February.
The “Fletch” films have been two of Chase’s most popular films. The films have grossed nearly $85 million combined at the box office. The original “Fletch” was helmed by Michael Ritchie — who alsodirected the sequel — and was adapted by Andrew Bergman from McDonald’s novel.
“Fletch 3” also brings Smith back to the studio system, after an irksome gig writing the screenplay for Warner Bros.’“Superman Lives”. Smith’s version of the script, which stayed true to the “Superman” comic series, was rejected by helmer Tim Burton after he signed to direct the film. Subsequently, the film has been postponed until April, and Smith said that because of the favorable notices and success of “Chasing Amy,” “I can come back into a studio again.”
Reuters/Variety
From what we recall, Kevin didn’t at all seem sure about the directing part, but he’ll definitelybe writing the script. Should be interesting to see how this one turns out. Kevin mentionedthat he really is a huge “Fletch” fan, so I suppose this one should be the “Superman Lives” ofthe “Fletch” series. Let’s just hope it works out better!
