Rockford Files Writer - P 2013
This story first appeared in the Nov. 8 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.
Universal is looking to give its big-screen take on The Rockford Files an edge.
Nic Pizzolatto (RWSG, Anonymous, Bloom Hergott), creator of HBO’s upcoming Matthew McConaughey–Woody Harrelson limited series True Detective, has been brought on board to write the Vince Vaughn-starring vehicle, taking over from Runner Runner duo David Levien and Brian Koppelman.
The move continues a hot streak for Pizzolatto, a former novelist whose distinctive voice made an easy transition to Hollywood in 2010.
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He sold True Detective to HBO in a rich straight-to-series deal (with Netflix and Showtime among other bidders) and since has written all eight episodes in advance of the show’s Jan. 12 premiere. Pizzolatto also was a staff writer on AMC’s first season of The Killing and penned MGM’s reboot of The Magnificent Seven.
Rockford is the NBC series created by Roy Huggins and Stephen J. Cannell that aired from 1974 to 1980 and starred James Garner as a scrappy and disheveled P.I. who ekes out a living taking on cold cases from this low-rent mobile home, preferring to talk his way out of trouble rather than use gunplay.
Vaughn is producing with sister Victoria via the duo’s production banner Wild West Picture Show.
E-mail: Borys.Kit@THR.com
Twitter: @borys_kit
