Hollywood Does 'Dallas' Remake

NEW YORK (Variety) - Villainous oilman J.R. Ewing is about to get shot again.

Regency Enterprises, a production company based at Twentieth Century Fox, is striking a seven figure deal to turn the primetime soap opera "Dallas" into a feature film.

"I like the idea of doing it for the 21st century, with a new cast," series creator Dave Jacobs told Daily Variety.

"We've got a new take on it. It's a much bigger canvas today and it belongs up on the big screen. Before people would have been interested in who is screwing each other. Now it's the national crimes that are affecting everyone. The conflict is still about family conflicts, but the stakes are higher now. That's the thing that excites me about it."

"So few of the great TV titles actually have a good enough story to work as a stand alone movie," added Michael Costigan, a former Sony Pictures executive who will produce with Jacobs. "I believe 'Dallas' is the jewel in the crown."

At Sony, Costigan oversaw production on "Charlie's Angels," the successful adaptation of the TV series of the same name. Costigan quit last year to form his own production shingle.

No writer is yet attached to the "Dallas" remake.

"Dallas," which ran on CBS from 1978 to 1992, was ranked either first or second for five straight years in the early 1980s. The famous "Who Shot J.R.?" episode garnered one of the highest ratings for a series in history of TV. The show, which is still running in syndication in many countries, has revenues of more than $1.3 billion.

Jacobs, who also created "Knot's Landing," added that, despite its new themes and storyline, the picture will retain the spirit of the original "Dallas."

"Dallas" revolved around the machinations of the wealthy. It starred Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing. "Dallas" the film will be populated by the characters who turned the series into a hit: Bobby and Pam, Jock and Miss Ellie, Lucy and Ray, Sue Ellen and Cliff Barnes and, of course, the devilish J.R. Ewing. It will be set at Southfork Ranch, as well.

This should be very interesting to see. Can't wait!

Larry Hagman said that he would like to see Bruce Willis take the roll of J.R. Ewing. However, I disagree.

Julianna Moore could pull off Pamela!

I heard that Tommy Lee Jones was gonna play JR Ewing.

I can halfway actually see TLJ play J.R. but, um, no. How about Brad Pitt?

I'm still rooting for Julianna Moore for Pamela.

LOL@you think Brad Pitt would make a good JR Ewing hahahahahahahahahahahaha. That ain't happening.

George Clooney? NAH. I don't know. Brad Pitt was a throw out.

I hear they're going to, instead of using Oil, use Wind Energy.

Ewing Energy.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=572&ncid=572&e=3&u=/nm/20050323/lf_nm/leisure_dallas_dc

More information about the movie...

Leave this show alone. I don't think anybody can copy the original actors.

The screenwriter writing the screenplay sounds like a dedicated fan.

I could see Michael douglas in the role of JR.

http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/zetajones%20tipped%20to%20star%20in%20dallas%20movie

ZETA-JONES TIPPED TO STAR IN DALLAS MOVIE

http://images.contactmusic.com/images/artist/czap.jpg

CATHERINE ZETA-JONES has been tipped to star in the big-screen version of classic TV show DALLAS - but producers are refusing to confirm BRAD PITT (http://www.contactmusic.com/new/artist.nsf/artistnames/brad%20pitt) as her co-star.

The OSCAR-winning beauty will play wholesome PAMELA EWING in the Texan oil drama, which originally ran for 13 years from 1978.

Her OCEAN'S TWELVE co-star Pitt is also expected to join her on the movie, which begins filming later this year (05).

Screenwriter ROBERT HARLING says, "The story starts with Bobby and Pam meeting and getting married.

"It is reinventing the Ewing family as if they exist in 2006 when the movie comes out.

"We want to make a big, all-star, flashy, go-for-it version of the TV series."

I hate to sound like an ugly American, but can we do just one movie without a British actress playing an American?

You racist.
Let Terri Schiavo live? I'm sorry. Was reading of the signatures. What if it's God's Will to take Schiavo? What if he's saying, "come on, Schiavo!"

Anyway, to get back on topic. This sounds interesting. I was thinking Julianne Moore could play Pam.

You racist.

:lol:

Yeah, I'm going to Hell.

:lol:

I can't think of anybody to play J.R.

You racist.
Let Terri Schiavo live? I'm sorry. Was reading of the signatures. What if it's God's Will to take Schiavo? What if he's saying, "come on, Schiavo!"

If. If. If. And what if he's not?

I have news for you. TJL doesn't have a racist bone in his body.

I can't think of anybody to play J.R.
I think John Travolta and George Clooney could play the Ewing brothers, with Travolta as JR.

If. If. If. And what if he's not?

What about the dignity of death? Some people want that granted. Here's something to think about. What if you were in Schiavo's case? Would you like to be kept alive on TECHNOLOGY?

What about the dignity of death? Some people want that granted. Here's something to think about. What if you were in Schiavo's case? Would you like to be kept alive on TECHNOLOGY?
This isn't about what I would want. It's what Terri would want, and she didn't have a living will.

This forum isn't the place for this discussion. You can state your feelings here, if you want.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=419

I can't think of anybody to play J.R.

I've been trying to think of some names too. I think it depends on the movie...
Is it going to be a modern day "reimaging" of the show? Is it a comedy? A toungue in cheek 70's parody?

There have been some good ideas thrown out already, Willis, Clooney, Travolta... I like Tommy Lee Jones too.

I heard Bruce Willis's name mentioned before. I hope its a good movie and not just a parody like so many of these tv to movie remakes.

I read in a recent article that the intention of bringing Dallas to the big-screen is having the soap opera take place in 2006 post-Enron. I'm actually looking forward to this movie. It's one of the first tv to big screen adaptations I am christening.

There are several posts on here about themovie, but this seemed the most general of them all.


What's the status???

It seems like it's now going to be done as a comedy. :rolleyes:

http://www.variety.com/VR1117970755.html

Betty Thomas takes on 'Dallas'
Travolta to still play J.R. Ewing in comedy
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Thomas

Regency and 20th Century Fox are overhauling the bigscreen adaptation of TV series "Dallas," about the oil-rich Ewing clan, and this time they're drilling for laughs.
Betty Thomas, the director who mined two spoof movie hits from "The Brady Bunch," is in discussions to direct. Pam Brady, who most recently scripted "Hot Rod," is penning the script.

John Travolta remains attached to play slimy oil tycoon J.R. Ewing.

When the movie was derailed late last year, Gurinder Chadha ("Bend It Like Beckham") was directing. Luke Wilson was attached to play Bobby Ewing with Shirley MacLaine to play Miss Ellie, while producers were talking with Meg Ryan to play Sue Ellen after Jennifer Lopez dropped out.

The budget for the comic "Dallas" should be lower than the projected $65 million for the straight-faced version.

There is also hope that a comedy about the dysfunctional Ewings will appeal to a younger audience, which has become a Regency priority. Studio is eyeing a January start date

What a joke, and not a good one. A comedy. Why even bother?

You have got to be f'ing kidding me.

Wow... this will suck.

I agree. Doing Dallas as a comedy is an insult to the greatest drama series o all time. I can't even believe they are allowing this to happen. You would think the original cast and producers of Dallas would be outraged at this and try to stop it to prevent ruining the name of their once great program.