Here we go again:
Last summer, it looked like John D MacDonald’s THE DEEP BLUE GOODBYE was back on track to becoming a movie. Then things died down and the project stared to, on again, collect dust.
Now the Hollywood machinery, in this case Fox, has started back up and it looks like Leonardo DiCaprio will be playing TDBG’s Travis McGee.
For you heathens that are not familiar with the Mcgee series, Travis is a former navy man that lives on a houseboard (the Busted Flush) and acts as a “salvage consultant” and helps folks out for a large fee. He is described as a “knight in slightly tarnished armor” and usually ended up aiding a lovely lady.
TDBG was publshed in 1964 and was the first of 21 books to featuring McGee. It seems certain that Fox is hoping this will become a new franchise. Travis McGee hit the silver screen in 1970 when Rod Taylor played him in Darker than Amber. In 1983, a telefilm (based on The Empty Copper Sea) was made, for ABC, with Sam Elliot as McGee.
I simply can’t see Leo as Travis McGee. Not in the slightest. I will give him credit for developing some serious acting skills, but in way does he fit the bill. Too young, too small. I love the series and have issues with them reimagining the character. Sam Elliot was actually in line with how I see McGee.
The writer is Dana Stevens, who wrote CITY OF ANGELS and FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME as well as having been a writer/producer for the television series WHAT ABOUT BRIAN. I never saw WHAT ABOUT BRIAN, but neither film exactly rocked my world.
It is not known whether or not previously attached Gary Fleder (RUNAWAY JURY, KISS THE GIRLS) is still on board. My guess is no.
POST NOTE: Lee and I were talking this afternoon about the casting of Travis McGee, tossing various names about. Lee came up with one that I think could be brilliant: Viggo Mortensen. As soon as he said it, I could instantly see Vig sitting on the Busted Flush, scruffy, lean and tan.
I am curious as to who others think would be good.
I'm with you. Sam Elliot is much more the character than DiCaprio could ever be(at least for now). Age him about fifteen more years and he might be ready.
Every time Hollywood re-imagines a favorite character I shudder. It's happened to much lately.
If we are not talking acting skills, Matthew McConaghy would be good.
I just don't think he can do a serious role…at least not well.
@MisterLynch:
You know, that would be an inspired choice, if you could get "A Time to Kill" MM to show up, and not the guy from every frickin' movie he made with Kate Hudson…
But Leo? Really? Has anybody involved even read the book?
Ray Stevenson, who played Titus in the HBO Rome series has the acting chops and the phsysical presence to do McGee I think. He is a bit of an unknown but check it out. Sorry, I just see McConaghy more as a prototype McDonald villain than the deeply philosophical mcGee.
I have been a Travis McGee fan since the beginning. I have all of the paperbacks in first edition. I had a subscription to the magazine JDMD Bibliophile in the 80's, no longer in existence. My opinion of Leo changed after watching Inception. He will be a PERFECT Travis McGee. I just hope that "Travis McGee" is a working title and they will actually change it to "The Deep Blue Goodbye" eventually. Keep an open mind. Travis would have.
Elliot? McConaghy? Now whose kidding?
DiCaprio could pull it off, and if he is behind the movie, it could actually get made. I like the idea of Viggo playing McGee, but I doubt he would want to stick with the series.