SPOTNITZ REVIVING KOLCHAK
Variety reports that veteran X FILES writer/producer Frank Spotnitz is spearheading a new version of KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER. The original ABC series, of course, starred Darren McGavin as a Chicago reporter who investigates monstrous phenomena, and despite running only one season from 1974-75 became a cult classic. New feature-film Kolchak adventures have been mooted in the past, but now Spotnitz is preparing a weekly show for ABC and Touchstone Television. Spotnitz (who co-scripted the fifth-season ‘Travelers’ episode of X FILES featuring McGavin, and is a former reporter himself), tells the trade, ‘The first [NIGHT STALKER] TV movie is burned into my memory. It was a huge event at the time, and it was one of my favorite TV characters of all time. The chance to return to this character and find another great storytelling vehicle for smart, scary television was very appealing.’ On the other hand, he intends to improve on the subsequent original series, which wound up going in directions even McGavin disapproved of. ‘As much as I loved the TV movie, the series was not successful,’ Spotnitz notes. ‘I wouldnt expect a religiously faithful adaptation. I dont intend to repeat the same mistakes.’
Courtesy of Fangoria
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