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What?! 'Saw' and 'Insidious' Director James Wan Finds 'MacGyver'

by Ethan Anderton
November 12, 2012
Source: Variety

In a combination almost as ridiculous as the items that the 80s, mullet-bearing secret agent would create, Variety reports Saw and Insidious director James Wan is in talks with New Line Cinema to adapt the TV series MacGyver into a feature film. Richard Dean Anderson led the series following Angus McGyver, an educated scientist with a background as a bomb team technician in Vietnam, who worked for the fictional government agency DXS (Department of External Services). Known for never carrying a gun and avoiding violence unless necessary, MacGyver used wits and a hodgepodge of goodies combined to thwart bad guys.

Bangkok Dangerous and Bad Company writer Jason Richman wrote the first script and it was most recently rewritten by Brian and Mark Gunn (who last penned Journey 2: The Mysterious Island). Will they keep MacGyver in the 80s for a pulpy thriller or have a contemporary story with a modern hero? Either way, with Wan's involvement and these writers involved, it sounds like it will be a straight-up action adventure. It's certainly an intriguing project if only because Wan hasn't directed anything except horror films. Could he be looking to expand his genre experience, or does he just love MacGyver?

The A-Team was a fun revival of an older TV show with contemporary action, and that's probably what will happen here. A parody along the lines of The Brady Bunch Movie would feel too much like the underrated comedy MacGruber, based on the "Saturday Night Live" sketch. Honestly, I think I'd rather see a MacGruber sequel actually happen than a MacGyver movie, if only because all I'm going to think about is Will Forte sucking as many di--, uhh, ripping as many throats as he can. In all seriousness, I'm anxious to see what Wan can do with material like this. How about you?

Filed under Development, Movie News

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