Ben Stiller is set to direct and star along Cate Blanchett In the 1960s sci-fi thriller, The Champions, a program that had, at the time, a huge following for its stars and its unique premise. Though only 30 episodes were made, they are regularly aired as specials in the U.K.
“Champions is a long forgotten gem that will excite a new generation in the same strange and magnificent way that the original series spoke to us. I’ve long wanted to work with Ben – the director and the actor. He is one of the most engaged and versatile directors working today. Anyone who can make both Zoolander and Escape at Dannemora is a creative force to be reckoned with,” said Blanchett on behalf of Dirty Films.
“I’m a huge fan of Cate’s for a very long time. I’m hoping this project will help people to finally take her seriously as an actress,” joked Stiller.
&The original series starred Craig Stirling, Sharron Macready, and Richard Barrett, agents for Nemesis, an international intelligence organization based in Geneva. Their first mission as a team: investigate some potentially lethal experiments in Communist China. As they were making their escaping, their plane was damaged, and crashed into a remote part of the Himalayas. When they were rescued by members an unknown society in Tibet, they came away with superhuman powers; telepathy, superior strength, memory, etc. They returned to civilization as ‘Champions of Law, Order, and Justice.’
“New Republic Pictures is thrilled to be teaming up with Ben Stiller and Cate Blanchett – an irresistible cinematic spy duo if ever there were one – along with our friends at ITV and Dirty Films, as we reimagine ITV’s fun and iconic 1960’s espionage franchise, The Champions. Literally can’t wait,” said New Republic President Fischer.
“There’s no doubt that we have a superhuman team on board to bring this riveting series to life for a new audience,” commented Philippe Maigret, President, ITV Studios America.
The Champions&has all the makings of a franchise. The fans begged for more when the series ended, and the show has enjoyed a resurgence &with its DVD boxset. If you just can’t wait for that set to arrive, you can catch it on Britbox. Here’s a couple of the original cast members introducing and encouraging the audience to tune in.
We can assume that Ben Stiller will be playing the part of the American, Craig Stirling, portrayed by Stuart Damon, who, it was rumored, was cast to appeal to an American audience. Damon is most known for his whopping 417 episodes of General Hospital, where he played Dr. Alan Quartermaine.
You can look forward to seeing Cate Blanchett in Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley, starring Bradley Cooper, Rooney Mara, Toni Collette, Willem Defoe, Ron Perlman, Tim Blake Nelson and Mary Steenburgen. They film concerns an ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words who hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is. Nightmare Alley hits theaters December 17. This news originated at Deadline
Source: movieweb.com