Robert Downey Jr.'s 'Perry Mason' Reboot Lands Hot Writer (Exclusive)

Marc Guggenheim is in negotiations to write the big-screen adventures of Perry Mason, set up at Warner Bros. as a potential starring vehicle for Robert Downey Jr.

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Downey also is producing with his wife and partner Susan Downey and their banner Team Downey, along with Robert Cort.

Mason is a defense attorney character at the center of a series of books by Erle Stanley Gardner that were first adapted as films and radio plays in the 1930s. The books were hugely popular but the character's appeal reached new heights with the TV series that starred Raymond Burr and ran from 1957 to 1966.

Guggenheim is writing a script based off an original story by Downey and Team Downey president David Gambino, bringing the character back to Los Angeles of the 1930s.

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Guggenheim will likely call upon his previous career as an attorney when tackling the script. The scribe practiced in Boston before embarking on a writing career. His early scripts centered around law and attorneys as he worked on shows such as The Practice and Law & Order. He also co-created the legal dramedy Eli Stone. 

Gambino, Eric Hetzel and Joe Horacek are exec producing with Susan Feiles and Chris Darling.

Jon Berg is overseeing for Warners.

Guggenheim also is a comic book writer, having worked for Marvel and DC Comics. He co-wrote the Green Lantern movie and is exec producing and co-writing Arrow, CW’s take on DC’s Green Arrow hero.  He is repped by WME and Ziffren Brittenham.

Email: Borys.Kit@thr.com

Twitter: @Borys_Kit