It’s back to the 1970s for Universal, which has hired the scriptwriting team of Neal Purvis and Robert Wade to write a Kojak movie for Vin Diesel. Telly Savalas played the savvy, foliclely-challenged, lollipop-licking New York City police detective in a memorably realistic police show that aired on CBS from 1973-1978.
According to Deadline, Purvis and Wade will attempt to fashion a contemporary version of the 1970s sleuth for the big screen. With Skyfall, which is approaching a billion dollars worldwide, as well as the three previous Bond films on their resume, Purvis and Wade are real heavyweights whose efforts don’t come cheap, so it appears that Universal is very serious about mounting Kojak as a potential cop movie franchise. But it’s early days--so far no director has been selected and only Vin Diesel, who is set to play the chrome-domed copper, is attached to act in the project at this point.

'Who Loves Ya, Baby?'--Why, It's Vin Diesel!
Posted by ICv2 on December 17, 2012 @ 4:30 pm CT

MORE SHOWBIZ
Column by Rob Salkowitz
July 14, 2025
Superman isn't a character who needs a general introduction to the broader public; he just needs an existing global fanbase to take a fresh look.
At Heritage's Hollywood/Entertainment Auction; Also, Rosebud, Jeannie's Bottle, and More
July 14, 2025
Heritage Auctions will put a Red Five X-Wing Starfighter filming model from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Indiana Jones' Whip from Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade up for auction at their July 16-18, 2025 Hollywood/Entertainment Auction.
MORE COMICS
Six-Issue Prequel to 'Gotham Academy'
July 15, 2025
The six-issue series is set before the events of the original Gotham Academy.
For Book Channel
July 15, 2025
Dynamite Entertainment has signed with Simon & Schuster for book channel distribution, the companies announced.