Tabloid rumour: Craig as Carter in Sweeney remake?

[Kristatos]

According to today's Daily Mail (a somewhat disreputable British tabloid, so take this story with a pinch of salt), Daniel Craig is one of the actors in the frame to play Carter in a remake of The Sweeney, with Ray Winstone as Regan. I have to say, whilst I don't like Craig as Bond, I could see him as Carter - and Ray Winstone is an obvious choice to play Regan. Perhaps a bit too obvious, but i'm not complaining.

[carl stromberg]

I did a Google search and most say Craig is going to play Regan. Surely George Carter would be better, and I'm not sure Winstone could play Carter alongside Craig's Regan.

As you say Kristatos, Winstone as Regan and Craig as Carter oculd work. You'll never beat the original duo of Thaw and Waterman!

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

Danny Dyer would be splendid as George Carter.

[007]

I suppose it would be too obvious to cast these two (but fun anyway).

[Blowfeld]

I Don't know if Daniel has it in him. He has got to have a good on screen relationship with whomever his co-star is, this tends to be his Achilles' heel.

[The Sweeney]

It's been known for a while now that Ray Winstone would play Regan. The film has been put on hold for the past year or so. I'm not overly keen on this remake, because I think Nick Love is too chavvy, and could make a mess of it. The fact that it has been given the greenlight again is interesting, but Craig as Carter would be superb.

The Sweeney is my favourite TV show (in case you didn't already know by my username). For those who have never seen it, it's what Life On Mars was based on. Gene Hunt was an OTT version of Jack Regan. From the pics below, Regan is the curly-haired older one, and Carter is the younger fair-haired one. Craig could play that part brilliantly, IMO.

[FormerBondFan]

Does The Sweeney series already have a backstory?

[Kristatos]

I suppose it would be too obvious to cast these two (but fun anyway).

That'd be a bit like casting James Coburn as Bond after the Flint films came out.

[Kristatos]

Does The Sweeney series already have a backstory?

Not much of one. Each episode was pretty much self contained. But I suppose the film would have to show the characters meeting for the first time in order to re-establish them for a new audience. Though I'm a little unclear who the intended audience for this remake is. There would be little to no brand recognition for anyone who is under 40 and/or not British, and if you fall into those categories, it's hard to see what would distinguish it from the many other cop thrillers out there. Cops drinking on the job and roughing up suspects doesn't have the shock value now that it did on British TV in the '70s.

[FormerBondFan]

Does The Sweeney series already have a backstory?

Not much of one. Each episode was pretty much self contained. But I suppose the film would have to show the characters meeting for the first time in order to re-establish them for a new audience. Though I'm a little unclear who the intended audience for this remake is. There would be little to no brand recognition for anyone who is under 40 and/or not British, and if you fall into those categories, it's hard to see what would distinguish it from the many other cop thrillers out there. Cops drinking on the job and roughing up suspects doesn't have the shock value now that it did on British TV in the '70s.

Would The Sweeney prequel movie work? Remaking TV series into movies seem pretty overdone these days.

[katied]

I suppose it would be too obvious to cast these two (but fun anyway).

That's exactly who I thought of(LOVE that show but I heard that BBC America is not going to show the final series. )

[Omega]

Ray Winstone???? Ohh. He was in Indian Jones 4. Don't know about that. But then he was very good in Edge of Darkness. Which slightly off topic did make me think of a James Bond type of guy.

[Dr. No]

I never heard of The Sweeney before this forum. And he is a alright guy. what a wonderful tribute for Craig to make for his #1 fan Craig could be good in a old fashion cop drama. In a 70's cop action film all of the things i complain about him being as Bond would be his great strengths.

I don't think Craig will be coming back as Bond a 3 year gap became 4 years and then longer it doesn't look good for a return it got pierce and dalton both and i have always wanted him to have a great career (away from bond). Besides if he does get this role and the others he is up for he will not have time for Bond if by some miracle it does come back for the 2012 anniversary

[Mazer Rackham]

No, Dan don't do it! Don't take a job from Michael Fassbender! I tired Python, I tired.

Could Daniel Craig be getting a chance to play George Carter? If new rumours about possible casting developments on The Sweeney are to be believed, then yes.

Trouble is, the rumours themselves have come flying straight out of the annoying gob (well, keyboard) of Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn, not exactly the most respected source for film info. So take the idea that the actor will be slipping into the part of Carter alongside still-apparently-attached Ray Winstone as Jack Regan with the biggest lump of salt you can find.

Based on the cult classic ‘70s police show, The Sweeney is turning into a nightmare for Fox Searchlight, which has been trying to get the film made for ages. Back in 2008, Winstone was even starting to shoot the film as Regan, with Nick Love directing. But even with a relatively low $16 million budget at stake, the company was forced to throw on the handbrake when co-producers DNA Films got cold feet on the idea of Michael Fassbender as Carter, worried that he wasn't well known enough to attract audiences. Bet they’d reconsider given Fassbender’s status these days!

And there’s more: according to Oneindia Entertainment, a whole host of names is being suggested, with Ewan McGregor, Tom Hardy and Orlando Bloom all said to have expressed interest in the Carter role. But what this really sounds like to us is the filmmakers throwing up a wish list of likely talent who could bring name recognition to the film to back up Winstone. Plus it could all be so much reheated rumour tosh.

The Sweeney, meanwhile, remains stuck in the development nick, wondering when it’ll ever have a chance at the screen.

[Kristatos]

One small correction: Littlecock wasn't the source of the rumour. The Mail published it as a news story and Littlecock published an op-ed column on it (basically saying "Oi! Love! Nooo!") the following day.

[Mazer Rackham]

Ho hum. I'll not lose sleep over it. While I like the idea of a remake I am not sure it can hold a candle to the original. What market is this supposed to be aimed at? A name like The A-Team struggles to break 100m.

[Kristatos]

Ho hum. I'll not lose sleep over it. While I like the idea of a remake I am not sure it can hold a candle to the original. What market is this supposed to be aimed at? A name like The A-Team struggles to break 100m.

Yup, as I said earlier. The newspaper story said that it was cashing in on the success of Life on Mars, but I'm not sure there'd be much of an audience for a theatrical LOM movie, let alone a movie based on the show that inspired it (that half the people who watched LOM have probably never heard of).

[katied]

No, Dan don't do it! Don't take a job from Michael Fassbender! I tired Python, I tired.

Could Daniel Craig be getting a chance to play George Carter? If new rumours about possible casting developments on The Sweeney are to be believed, then yes.

Trouble is, the rumours themselves have come flying straight out of the annoying gob (well, keyboard) of Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn, not exactly the most respected source for film info. So take the idea that the actor will be slipping into the part of Carter alongside still-apparently-attached Ray Winstone as Jack Regan with the biggest lump of salt you can find.

Based on the cult classic ‘70s police show, The Sweeney is turning into a nightmare for Fox Searchlight, which has been trying to get the film made for ages. Back in 2008, Winstone was even starting to shoot the film as Regan, with Nick Love directing. But even with a relatively low $16 million budget at stake, the company was forced to throw on the handbrake when co-producers DNA Films got cold feet on the idea of Michael Fassbender as Carter, worried that he wasn't well known enough to attract audiences. Bet they’d reconsider given Fassbender’s status these days!

And there’s more: according to Oneindia Entertainment, a whole host of names is being suggested, with Ewan McGregor, Tom Hardy and Orlando Bloom all said to have expressed interest in the Carter role. But what this really sounds like to us is the filmmakers throwing up a wish list of likely talent who could bring name recognition to the film to back up Winstone. Plus it could all be so much reheated rumour tosh.

The Sweeney, meanwhile, remains stuck in the development nick, wondering when it’ll ever have a chance at the screen.

Everyone knows my feelings about Fassbender....I'm allergic to hype.Sorry.

[carl stromberg]

Ho hum. I'll not lose sleep over it. While I like the idea of a remake I am not sure it can hold a candle to the original. What market is this supposed to be aimed at? A name like The A-Team struggles to break 100m.

Great posters!