MovieChat Forums > The Night Stalker (1972) Discussion > Guess what reporter's making a comeback?...

Guess what reporter's making a comeback?!?

posted 20 years ago by NiteAnjel
5 replies | jump to latest

Yep, you guessed it. Here's the latest. The gang from "The X-Files" were apparently inspired by "The Night Stalker", so it's no surprise to hear that they're behind a retool of the latter series. According to Variety, "X Files" vet Frank Spotnitz, along with ABC, are resurrecting "Kolchak the Night Stalker".

In the original series/movies Darren McGavin (who later guest-starred as a Kolchak-esque character on "The X-Files") starred as a reporter who stumbled upon the weird, wacky and darn-right freaky week-in, week-out. No word on who'll be playing his part in the rework.

I was contemplating Socrates when he said, "I drank what?"

[–] Applepiemovieguy 20 years ago

I like this movie and remember seeing it on t.v. when it was first broadcast. But I wish they would remake the movie instead of bringing the series back. If I remember correctly the series only lasted one season. The plots were repetitous. Every week Kolchak would track down another monster just like in the movie. They will have to do better than that to make it work. The X-Files had a complex plot structure unlike the simple one The Night Stalker used. And they had better find some pretty good actors too.

[–] clyons 20 years ago

Sorry to cool your jets, but it's not "The Gang from The X-Files", it's Frank Spotnitz, the man who did more than anyone (except possibly Chris Carter) to destroy The X-Files, and who has displayed a singular lack of talent and originality in his career in TV.

The pilot is just that--a pilot. Many many pilots shot this year will never see the light of day, and this will probably be one of them.

Stuart Townsend will play Kolchak. Yes, the guy who played Lestat in "Queen of the Damned" and Dorian Gray in "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen". And he probably is capable of giving better performances than that. But no, he's not capable of playing Carl Kolchak.

The script's gonna suck, the direction won't be much, they're going to try and give Kolchak the X-Files treatment by giving him a hot female partner, played by Gabrielle Union. It sounds like the idea is to make Kolchak a hot happening guy the ladies love, and everyone is impressed with--man, they really do not get this show at ALL.

My guess is that we never see this turkey at all, unless SciFi Channel ends up buying it for one of their Saturday Night el cheapo horror movies.

[–] gothic_ghosthunter 20 years ago

*Sigh* I'm about ready to give up. At least you're not blatantly insulting the poor guy like most of the Night Stalker fans in this board. He IS a good actor...just see some of his other movies. QotD is bad example in my opinion because they completely ruined the original story Anne Rice created (Not Mr. Townsend or ANY cast member's fault...blame the producer, director, and screen writer for that one). LXG is another bad example because that film flopped, with good reason. I know it originally came from a comic book. It had that "comic book feel," which is good...when you're reading a comic book. That film was just...bad. I recommend a film that didn't crash and burn..."About Adam" is my personal absolute favorite. I thought "Shade" was pretty good too, but I'm kind of alone on that one usually.

Well anyhow, as all good mothers say, if you can't say something nice...
Give. him. a. chance. please. I'm sick of repeating myself here. He may shock you. If he can play a seducer in one film and become every woman's fantasy, and in another film give people nightmares as a crazed serial killer...he's a very versatile actor. I think he can pull this off.

[–] MgainR 20 years ago

nope. he's no good. strictly c-list.

"who's your datty en whot duss he do?"

[–] Virgil2127 20 years ago

gothic_ghosthunter, the two big budget movies Townsend was in failed for the same reason - the producers tried to make the movie something it was not. As you said, QotD failed because the producers ruined the original concept. LXG failed for pretty much the same reason. It did not fail, however, because it was based on a comic book. It failed because, like QotD, the producers ignored the source material.

But to confirm what you said before, both projects did NOT fail because of Townsend alone.

I can tell that Townsend is at least something of a capable actor. And let's be honest, there are LOTS of worst choices for a younger actor to play Kolchak.

I've only seen Townsend is majorly flamboyant roles. Kolchak is a mixture of both flamboyance and blue collar eloquence. He has high hopes, like all of us, but those high hopes usually get squashed by other people, not by other monsters.

Townsend might be able to pull it off. But even the best actor for the job couldn't pull it off entirely, because the best actor for the role IS Darren McGavin.

And once again, don't give comics too bad a rep. Moonstone Comics in particular are at least partially responsible for maintaining Kolchak's place in pop culture, running several recent Kolchak mini-series and one-shots.

"All we ever see of stars are their old photographs." Dr. Manhattan, Watchmen