Arnie Hammer and Henry Cavill star in the movie remake of “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” TV series.
With the big-screen reboot of “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” in theaters, you would think Hollywood would have exhausted the possibilities of movies made from ’60s TV shows. In recent years, there have been movie versions of “Bewitched,” “Lost In Space,” “The Green Hornet,” “I Spy,” “Get Smart,” “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “The Addams Family,” “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” and more that we’re forgetting (because, let’s face it, those were bad enough).
Still, there are some overlooked shows waiting to get reworked for modern audiences.
Our top 5 picks:
The old show: 1968-1970. Starred Robert Wagner as handsome thief Alexander Mundy, who is sprung from jail by the government to use his criminal skills against our enemies. As Wagner says so memorably in the cool opening titles, “Let me get this straight…you want me to steal?”
The new movie: “It Takes A Hacker.” Handsome thief Chris Hemsworth is sprung from jail by the government to use his criminal skills against our cyberenemies. (Oh, wait, that was the recent Michael Mann movie “Blackhat.” And, apparently, nobody wants to see that again.)
The old show: 1959-1966. Starred Gil Fleming and a young Clint Eastwood as cattle herders on a never-ending trail, fighting off rustlers and opportunists at every turn. (Great theme song, too.)
The new movie: We’re shocked Eastwood hasn’t done this already. You don’t even have to change the title. He could write, direct and co-star as the grumbly “get off my pasture” geezer who feeds the trail hands. And Scott Eastwood (“The Longest Ride”) could play Rowdy Yates, the role that made his father a star.
The old show: 1965-1966. Starred Dick Van Dyke’s brother Jerry as a lawyer whose dead mother starts talking to him through the radio of a beatdown jalopy. Generally regarded as one of the worst TV shows ever made, it only lasted one season.
The new movie: “Dude, Where’s My Mother The Car?” Pam Grier voices the mother with Coffy-esque attitude and kickass advice while Kevin Hart plays the put-upon son. (Ashton Kutcher wanders in and out, looking for the car.) Naturally, the vehicle gets a ‘Fast and Furious’-style, super-turbo upgrade for all the CGI stunt scenes.
The old show: 1966-1967. Two top American scientists travel back in time in this sci-fi series, visiting such historical moments as the battle at the Alamo and the sinking of the Titanic.
The new movie: “The Trump Tunnel.” Top American science denier Donald Trump travels back in time, visiting such historical moments as the battle at the Alamo (where he single-handedly defeats the Mexican army and drives them back across the border) and the sinking of the Titanic (where he talks tough to the iceberg and it melts.)
The old show: 1968-1975. Two cops, Martin Milner and Kent McCord, cruise the mean streets of Los Angeles to protect the innocent in this “Dragnet”-style series.
The new movie: “Adam and Eve-12.” Two cops, Colin Farrell and Rachel McAdams, cruise the mean streets of Los Angeles, a fallen Paradise where you can’t find an innocent to protect. (Oh, wait, that was Season 2 of “True Detective.” And, apparently, nobody wants to see that again.)
