Dragnet Returns?

[Manu]

HOLLYWOOD, California (Reuters) -- Here are the facts, ma'am: Emmy-winning "Law & Order" supremo Dick Wolf is developing a primetime take on the classic cop drama "Dragnet," Variety reports.

Wolf is expected to write the pilot and serve as executive producer of the Studios USA Television project, which wouldn't be ready until sometime in 2003 at the earliest. No network deal has closed yet, but multiple outlets have expressed interest in landing the rights to the series.

Given Wolf's involvement, Studios USA will likely have no problem landing a buyer for the new "Dragnet." Indeed, it's possible a pact with a network could be completed by month's end -- assuming Studios USA and Wolf Films are able to work out a deal that satisfies all sides' financial requirements.

Studios USA, which produces Wolf's "Law & Order" trilogy, has been aggressive in seeking cable windows for its series, a fact which can sometimes complicate negotiations. It's unknown, however, whether such issues are even on the table regarding the "Dragnet" update.

Wolf, his reps at United Talent Agency and Studios USA all declined to comment on the project.

However, it's expected Wolf's show will be more of a revisualization of "Dragnet" as a modern-day Los Angeles cop drama rather than a simple remake of the old series. The idea is to marry Wolf's proven ability to create franchise crime drama hits with another already recognizable brand name.

"Dragnet" -- a straight-ahead procedural cop drama starring Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday -- is one of the most recognizable franchises in TV and film. The original NBC series ran from January 1952 through 1959, having originated in 1949 as a radio drama. It resurfaced on NBC in 1967, running for three more years.

Its "just the facts" approach to drama, created by Webb, was a precursor to Wolf's own "Law & Order" franchise, which has also thrived. "L & O" has spawned two brand extensions -- "Special Victims Unit" and "Criminal Intent" -- that have proven to be major successes for NBC.

As for "Dragnet," Universal brought the title back in 1987 as a feature film from director Tom Mankiewicz and producers David Permut and Robert Weiss. With Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks as the leads, the project did boffo box office, ranking as one of the year's top 10 draws. It also sparked a slew of pictures based on classic TV shows.
www.cnn.com

[Samurai Jack]

I have always liked Dragnet, and to here that it may be comming back is very good news. I only hope that Wolf does good with the series just as he has done with Law & Order.