I read the script to SWAT and it was a LOT of fun. You know Assault on Precinct 13? Well just think about that in a moving SWAT vehicle, so kinda mix Assault on Precinct 13, Sahara and The Rock up in a good mixer and poor out... SWAT. These guys are so cool, you remember that opening helicopter ride in PREDATOR? That's how these guys and gal act. This is a "techno-fetish" film, which encorporates all thos neato torpedo goodies that makes us macho maCHO MEN make that Home Improvement guy's excited noise. Of course the spewing phallic-ness of it all could be tiresome for some, but with the right director this could be the beginning of a very very large franchise. It does have that potential, I know after reading the script, I wanted to read the sequel. So it works.
Anyway, what prompted the above was a letter I got from the Z-MAN (of course that Edwardian rock star look was a little tired) about inside SWAT news, so check it out:
"Marcus Nisple did not leave the project for creative differences -- he was fired. Nisple was unable to get a grasp on how an American action film works. Basically, the guy had no sense of humor. Add to that his inflexibility with the studio and he was on the road.
The studio bigwigs recently decided to budget this thing north of $100 million. They see this as a major franchise.
Right now they're talking a big Hong Kong action director to take over (HARRY NOTE: It's unlikely to be WOO, but RINGO LAM would be FANTASTIC In My OPINION).
Looks like they're thinking of Tommy Lee Jones or Ed Harris to play Hondo.
Although Renny Harlin did not take this project (he wanted first dollar gross and overhead) he is courting the SWAT writers to do rewrite on DEEP BLUE SEA, his Warner Brothers smart shark film.
