Genre: Action.
Studio:
MGM/UA.
Production Company:
Spelling Entertainment.
Project Phase: In the Can.
Who's In It:
Claire Danes; Giovanni Ribisi (Pete); Omar Epps (Linc); Dennis Farina (Captain Greer); Steve Harris; Josh
Brolin (Billy); Michael Lerner.
Who's Making It:
Scott Silver (Director); Scott Silver, Stephen Kay (Screenwriters); Alan Riche, Ben Myron, Tony Ludwig
(Producers); Aaron Spelling, David Ladd (Executive Producers); Ellen Kuras (Director of
Photography); Dorian Harris (Editor); based on the television series of the same name.
Premise: Young people in trouble with the law are given a choice by the police: they can go to jail, or they can help the law by infiltrating dangerous counter culture groups and exposing the real criminals who prey on the young.
Release Date: April 2, 1999.
Comments:
Aaron Spelling wants to bring one of his old TV shows to the big screen. I guess he figures: if everyone else is doing it, why not me? But the real question we all have in our hearts is: when do we get to see that $100 million version of Charlie's Angels hit the local theater complex???
Rumors: Unknown.
Scoop Feedback:
July 29, 1997... [Page initially drafted and submitted by 'Deadpool'.]
August 4, 1997... This scooper reports to us that they can't tell us just yet who's slated to direct the film, but it's not Tobey Maguire. [Scoop sent in by 'cnlasher'.]
August 7, 1997... A little bit of confusion may have been created by the last scoop. Before we get into the latest project news, this scooper's email may help clear up any confusion people may have had about who Tobey Maguire is...
"Just wanted to correct you on something: Tobey Maguire is not even listed in your feature as a possible director, but as an actor. Yet you state in your update that he's not directing, as if it's some sort of correction. He is an actor, he'll be in the upcoming The Ice Storm. Stacy Title is listed as director, although I read in Variety that she has left the project. Title has indeed left the film, as our next entry confirms... [Thought sent in by 'aliandphil'.]
Late Tuesday evening we're told that Scott Silver up for the director's job in addition to re-writing parts of the film. The scooper let us know that Silver's negotiations were "very unsteady", though... [Scooped by 'cnlasher'.]
...but then yesterday (the 6th) it's officially announced that Silver's got the job. Inside sources report to Variety that Silver's re-writing the script. His last film was the independent film johns. [Submitted by 'soylentphil' (you gotta love that name) and followed up by 'cnlasher'.]
March 15, 1998... Claire Danes (William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet) joins the cast. [Reported by 'lcuga'.]
March 24, 1998... Shooting begins April 26th. The setting for the movie will be the L.A. club scene. Maguire is out of this project due to his involvement in To Live On. MGM is hard at work looking for Claire's co-stars. Jaleel White (Family Matters) and Brad Renfro (Apt Pupil) have been mentioned has possible co-stars. [Scoop by 'Deadpool'.]
April 21, 1998... Talk is that Peggy Lipton and Clarence Williams III will also have roles in the film. [Thanks to our pal on the streets, Leo.]
'nother one of our bros sent us this little overview of the film's plotline. Turns out one of this fellow's chums got a call from a market research firm gauging what they would think of a new Mod Squad film along these lines...
"Linc, Julie and Pete are arrested for various drug offenses and given the oportunity to avoid jail by becoming special police officers by Capt. Greer. They are supposed to help infiltrate a drug ring. There's just one catch: they aren't given, nor are they allowed to have any guns. Their first big operation is a major screw-up. None of the other cops likes them: only Greer stands behind them. He gives them one last chance... breaking up an underage call-girl ring. While investigating, they come across Greer talking to some of the drug dealers they know to be involved with the call-girl ring. The next day, Greer turns up dead and in possession of a large amount of cocaine or heroine (my bud couldn't remember which.) His replacement immediately disbands the team and sends them away. Of course they smell a rat and decide to investigate on their own. They find a 'tangled web of deception where sometimes the good guys are the bad guys.'
"He (my friend) further went on to mention that he was asked a lot of questions specifically about nudity and violence and if it would deter him from seeing the film. They also mentioned the term 'hardcore action.' Since filming hasn't even started yet, the studio must be trying to gauge their audience. Of course, he's a big fan of the TV show and told them that the more boobs and bullets the better, especially if the boobs belong to Claire. (I'm hoping he was joking about that, otherwise his responses will probably be tossed out.) It sounds like at the moment they're working on an R rating and I hope it stays that way - I'm a big fan of the show, as well." [Cool talk from Richard Slick.]
June 7, 1998... Josh Brolin, Dennis Farina, and Michael Lerner joined the cast. Brolin will play Billy, an ex-junkie, ex-actor, and ex-boyfriend of Julie who re-emerges in her life. Farina will play Captain Greer, and Lerner is playing a corrupt music agent that the trio are investigating. [Scooped by 'hime79' and 'jleec04'.]
Another scooper read the script and send us their synopsis of it. You can swipe the white space below with your mouse to uncover what the scooper sent us, but it's filled with MAJOR SPOLIERS. "Julie is on the wagon. She has to constantly fight the bottle. After she gets her heart broken by discovering that her long lost love is involved in the racket, she ends up getting drunk and banging Peter. Linc never gets laid. He also has his car wrecked. Dennis Farina gets killed and the Mod Squad are implicated. "There is an opening scene with the three of them racing underneath the pier.
"The best role in the film is Red. He's a slimey club owner who dry humps Claire Danes while she's waiting for her drink order. It might be a breakthrough role for any actor in Hollywood.
[Coverage submitted by 'Foetaine'.]
August 11, 1998... This scooper's seen some promotional photos of the cast from The Mod Squad and they sure liked what they say. "Epps does not sport the signature Linc afro," our scooper told us but then added "Danes has chopped her hair short, wears dark eyeliner, and looks just as hot as ever. If images reflect the quality, this movie will be bad ass." [Anonymous.]