MovieChat Forums > The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair (1983) Discussion > Could A 'Man From U.N.C.L.E' movie work?

Could A 'Man From U.N.C.L.E' movie work?

posted 21 years ago by thecritchster
14 replies | jump to latest

I was just wondering about this the other day, and since pretty much all the old TV series from the seventies and that period have been pulled up, made over and made into movies, I guess it won't be long before someone takes a look at this
I man we've already had 'Charlies Angels', 'I-Spy', 'S.W.A.T' and now 'Starsky And Hutch' so why not this? But I have a horrible feeling it wouldn't work and Hollywood would ruin it...is there anyway this could be made into a good, fun, action filled thriller which gets us to see Napoeloen and Illya back with a bang????
I hope so, if it is made...
but it raises one question in my mind, who the hell could replace Robert Vaughn and David McCallum?

My bets would be:

Napoeloen Solo - Dougray Scott, Colin Farrel, Cilve Owen (maybe?)

Illya Kurakin - ??????????????????????? Macaly Culkin???

Alexander Waverly - Patrick MacNee,Sean Connery, Michael Gough, Christopher Lee?

Any sugestions anyone?

[–] grendelkhan 20 years ago

A Man from U.N.C.L.E. movie could easily work, especially if it emphasized THRUSH as a terrorist organization. However, like all good movies, everything would depend on a good script, director, actors, and studio support. You couldn't be totally faithful, given how tastes change in 40 years, but you could modify it for modern sensiblities, while retaining the humor and charm. But, I would't hold my breath with the current state of Hollywood. I have the same feeling for the Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. film in development. It will probably be more like the recent boring Bond films, than the classic Bond or the Steranko comics.

As for a cast:

Solo: Tom Hanks (just kidding)
Jude Law, Guy Pierce, Hugh Jackman; someone in their early thirties, good looking, and good with humor and action, as well a a strong performer.

Kuryakin: Paul Bettany, or another British or European actor with a stoic presence.

Waverly: Michael Gough; Derek Jacobi; a distinguished British actor, especially a character actor.

Gotta keep the exotic weapon design though. The UNCLE Special Walther P-38's were as much a star as Vaughn and Maccallum.

[–] ecarle 20 years ago

Some years ago, there was a rumor that Quentin Tarantino wanted to play Illya Kuryakin in a "Man From UNCLE" movie, and such a movie has been announced from time to time.

However, the failure of movies made from such TV spy shows as "The Wild, Wild, West," "The Avengers," and "I Spy" evidently keeps "The Man From UNCLE" from happening as a movie.

One thing I would strongly recommend: if they make "The Man From UNCLE" as a movie, KEEP the great Jerry Goldsmith theme song, and use the version from the first black-and-white season, which was more muscular and thunderous than the later "rock/jazz" versions. One reason all those other TV spy movies failed is that they didn't even keep the recognizable theme songs.

[–] d-workman 20 years ago

Why not have Vaughn and McCallum play Solo and Kuryakin, and avoid the mess of Mission Impossible? Jim Phelps as a traitor - no way!! Maybe one or the other of them could now be heading U.N.C.L.E. in the Waverly role, and bring on some new characters. Continutiy with the old series, same theme music, etc. Sorry folks, James West was not black and he didn't perform hip-hop theme songs. No wonder these remakes are so awful.

[–] lostwriter2001 20 years ago

I also am afraid what they would do with a UNClE film. It would be better if it was just left alone. Unless they let the members of this group write the script and doing the casting, then it just might have a chance.

[–] ShadowsouL 19 years ago

Napoleon Solo...Kyle MacLachlan

Ilya Kuryakin...Joe Penny or Christopher Meloni

Alexander Waverly...Ian McKellen

[–] andell 19 years ago

Maculay Culkin as Kuryakin? It hurts...it physically hurts me to think of that.

Actually, when I was younger, I thought that a good example of casting would've been to put Kyle McLaughlin as Solo, and Jason Connery as Kuryakin. I think Clive Owen would be good as a villan...many of the Thrush villans had deep, distinguished voices, and good looks.

Can't imagine Colin Farrell as Solo either- I think what made Solo so interesting as a heroic figure is that he was attractive, but very physically ordinary besides. In that sense, I think Colin Farrell would be too athletic to play Solo. As for Dougray Scott...I dunno...I've never been too impressed with him as an actor in the slightest.

[–] japwe 19 years ago

With the right budget and people with adequate knowledge of what the original series was all about U.N.C.L.E. could make a great comeback.

I'm a big fan of continuity ... I reckon they should keep Robert Vaughn and David McCallum as Napoleon and Illya as senior U.N.C.L.E agents and introduce some fresh actors as younger agents ... maybe Napoleon is now the Head of New York uncle base and Illya is the head of section 2. Mr Waverly used to come out on adventures from time to time, so I don't see why Napoleon and Illya couldn't be scripted in for some fun and action.

Otherwise, if they were going to replace Napoleon and Illya with new actors, I reckon George Clooney would make a comendable Napoleon Solo and Sean Bean an excellent Illya. The other bloke I have in mind for Napoleon is the chap from Twin Peaks Kyle McCla ... Mc Mac ??? Him ... he kind of looks like Robert Vaughn.

Wrong choices: MR.T as Napoleon Solo, Heather Locklear as Illya and Jackie Chan as Mr Waverly.

I hate remakes where they mess around with the original concept and, though it got panned, the only remake I've seen where they didn't was the Avengers ... if you watch it, it is remarkably like the old series in many ways .. even like the campy 70/80s comeback with Joanna Lummley. Sean Connery in a giant Teddy Bear suit was definitly the right thing. The plot was a bit way out. I think it failed mostly due to the lack of imagination that's around these days - it didn't fit the expected Hollywood norm. Back in the 60s that movie probably would have been a trailblazing hit.

I also hated the fact the Peter Graves wasn't even considered for the role of Jim Phelphs in the first MI flick ... his character being a turncoat I could just about deal with, but the lack of Mr Graves ... no way. Great great shame.

Wild Wild West ... Why? Why?

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] joolesasher 18 years ago

Not too fond of the whole "New men from U.N.C.L.E."-approach. It needs to be the lovable two.

I'd like to see a remake, for the same reasons as the Miami Vice-remake.

1) It's just pure awesomeness seeing the two greatest characters of their time (C&T transcends theirs) alive again.

2) It'll make people understand what the heck you've been obsessing about for all this time.

[–] alanbobet 17 years ago

In the DVD extras of the Time-Life The Man From UNCLE Complete Series on DVD, Robert Vaughn said that he would prefer that George Clooney portray Napoleon Solo in an updated movie version of UNCLE and if he was ever offered a cameo in the new film, he would certainly play the Head Chief of UNCLE. David McCallum who was in that same interview, was a bit miffed about Mr. Vaughn's response and answered that why should Vaughn be the new UNCLE chief, when he was an equally valid candidate for the Role, if ever offered? Personally I agree that George Clooney would make a great Napoleon Solo for an updated UNCLE movie version and that Ewan McGregor would make a great Illya and Ian Mackellan would be a great Alexander Waverly and that the UNCLE updated movie should be directed by Richard Donner who directed UNCLE TV episodes back in the 1960's and is the right person to direct an UNCLE movie.

[–] Toxie2k2 16 years ago

While watching Quantum of Solace I was thinking how much fun a Man from UNCLE movie could be, I think it's about time someone made a fun spy movie again.

By fun I don't mean "let's spoof the original", I just mean a film where you have likable characters doing heroic things to help save the world.

[–] alanbobet 16 years ago

I totally agree with you regarding the UNCLE movie, but as always it all depends who is in charge of that project.

[–] grendelkhan 14 years ago

To me, an UNCLE movie needs to be in the spirit of the 60's Bond movies, but with more modern sensibilities. You need a big climactic battle with THRUSH. This is spy-fi, not Bourne or Jack Ryan. It needs to be a little over-the-top, but not Austin Powers over-the-top. Fun, not camp or parody.

Clooney would be fine; he'd also make a great "classic" Nick Fury (vs the Samuel L. Jackson Nick Fury of the Ultimate Marvel line and recent Marvel movies). I could see him in an eyepatch, chomping on a cigar, but without falling into a vat of "cheese" like David Hasselhoff, in the 90's tv movie. Sean Bean is getting a bit old for Kuryakin (would make a great Willie Garvin in a Modesty Blaise film, though). Heck there are several fine Eastern European actors who could play a more authentic Kuryakin. If you don't mind older, Rutger Hauer could make for an intersting Kuryakin, though he would have been better back in the 80's.

McKellan would be ok as Waverly, but I would rather see someone like Brian Cox. The late Ian Richardson (House of Cards) would have been an interesting one.

[–] liscarkat (19427) a year ago

Well, it was done, it worked okay, but it wasn't much like the original series.