Actor Vin Diesel has been maintaining the hype on his Facebook page for Universal Pictures’s currently-developing theatrical reboot of the classic 1970’s crime drama TV series, Kojak, which centered around a bald New York Police Lieutenant played by actor Telly Savallas, and later in 2005 by actor Ving Rhames. The post comes well over a year since Diesel was announced to reprise the classic role, best known for his penchant for suits, lollipops and his catchphrase, “Who loves ya, baby?”
The film’s script to which Diesel addresses as “one of the best they have gotten in years” was handled by Skyfall writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. No director has been announced as of yet since Diesel expressed his hopes to have Life Of Pi, Brokeback Mountain and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon director Ang Lee on board to helm late last year.
Diesel is reportedly in Dubai with the cast and crew of Fast And Furious 7 to meet its newly targeted theatrical release date set for April 10, 2015. Meanwhile, the actor is expected to feature his voice over performance as the character of Groot for director James Gunn’s next film, Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy, which Diesel boasts will be unlike anything fans have ever seen, adding that the film not only “blow you away… it could very well break Marvel records…”. The film lands in theaters on August 1, 2014.
Diesel is also expected to star in Soldiers Of The Sun, in which he will also produce under his One Race Films banner, as well as reprise the titular role for the third time in xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage. The actor also clued in fans last year about further expanding on the success of his recent performance as the eponymous intergalatic anti-hero in the 2013 film, Riddick, which arrives home on Blu-Ray and DVD on January 14, 2014.
QUESTION: Which actress would you like to see working with Diesel on the upcoming Kojak film? Tell us your answers on Facebook, Twitter or Google+, and stay tuned for more Kojak news!
