The Saint (tv series and movies)

edited April 2022 in General Movies & TV Posts: 7,653
James Purefoy as Simon Templar alias The Saint

As first reported here in December of 2007, James Purefoy is finally at last all set to play the new Simon Templar in the forthcoming TV series of The Saint. We may have jumped the gun a bit back in 2007, but we weren't wrong -- just early!

James Purefoy has written an introduction to Ian Dickerson's The Saint on TV, in which he talks about his forthcoming role as Simon Templar. Shooting is reported to be slated to start in July 2011 in New Orleans.

The newest version of The Saint is being produced William J. MacDonald, Geoffrey Moore (Sir Roger Moore's son), and Jorge Zamacona (most recently of "Oz"). Burl Barer, noted author of the continuing adventures of The Saint, has also been involved in the writing of the script, The Saint in New Orleans.

James Purefoy, who will play the new Saint, was screen tested for the role of James Bond in 1995 for Goldeneye, and throughout 2004 and 2005 Purefoy's name was rumoured as a possible candidate to replace Brosnan as agent 007 in future James Bond films. These rumors surfaced again before the 2006 film, Casino Royale. In December 2007, James Purefoy was first rumored to have been cast in the role of Simon Templar alias The Saint, and that was put on-hold due to production issues and his role in The Philanthropist. In 2011, it appears that Purefoy is coming back to the role of The Saint!
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Comments

  • j7wildj7wild Suspended
    Posts: 823
    to me, Roger Moore will always be the Saint just as Sir Sean Connery will always be James Bond
  • Posts: 7,653
    Then to think Roger Moore was the 4th person to play the Saint. Like Bond there have been many performers. I personaly am a big fan of George Sanders as Simon Templar. And Ian Ogilvy was The Saint when I grew up and his series filmed out of studio is visually much better than most of Rogers series. But he was indeed an excellent Saint, I agree.
  • St_GeorgeSt_George Shuttling Drax's lovelies to the space doughnut - happy 40th, MR!
    edited April 2011 Posts: 1,699
    Sir Rog fit the personality and, in fact, the visual description of Leslie Charteris's original Saint to a tee.

    However, Purefoy's casting could be very canny (indeed, in my humble opinion, he was the biggest missed opportunity for the 007 role in recent years, with all due respect to The Brozzer and Dan Craig). This could well be an interesting project to watch take shape...
  • Posts: 638
    They have been trying to get this new Saint series off the ground for many years. I have heard start dates come and go. Forgive me but I'm not going to get too excited until the camera actually starts to roll (they still don't have a UK or US network behind them).
  • Posts: 7,653
    To be very honest I have yet to see an actor fit the early Saint, the one from the early thirties is the one I like best. ANd perhaps Purefoy will be closest if they really dare to leave the Roger Moore style behind. Even Ogilvy's version was closer to the Saint of the novels, just that bit more athletic and sometimes cruel in his judging of the Ungodly.

    To be very honest I've got a rather large Saint library so perhaps I am slightly more of a Charteris-fan than a Fleming fan.
  • Posts: 1,856
    Hay at least it isn't an American
  • Posts: 7,653
    Update -

    The Saint in New Orleans is a Two-hour TV movie being produced by Cajun Pictures, with filming starting in July.

    The movie is going to be directed by Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, White Men Can’t Jump and Tin Cup).

    The screenplay has been written by William J. Macdonald and Burl Barer; and is loosely based on ‘The Sporting Chance’ plus additional Charteris material and characters.

    Locations – err… New Orleans.

    Geoffrey Moore is now an Executive Producer.

    Sir Roger is definitely in the cast and Burl Barer has dropped hints that Ian Ogilvy may be in it as well – to use Burl’s words, ‘watch this space’.

    Bill Macdonald is also the shows ‘runner’ (Guess that means script editor – if it goes to a full series).

    The part of Patricia Holm is being cast.

    James Purefoy has said that his Saint is ‘out to make mischief’.


  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,567
    Update -

    The Saint in New Orleans is a Two-hour TV movie being produced by Cajun Pictures, with filming starting in July.

    The movie is going to be directed by Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, White Men Can’t Jump and Tin Cup).

    The screenplay has been written by William J. Macdonald and Burl Barer; and is loosely based on ‘The Sporting Chance’ plus additional Charteris material and characters.

    Locations – err… New Orleans.

    Geoffrey Moore is now an Executive Producer.

    Sir Roger is definitely in the cast and Burl Barer has dropped hints that Ian Ogilvy may be in it as well – to use Burl’s words, ‘watch this space’.

    Bill Macdonald is also the shows ‘runner’ (Guess that means script editor – if it goes to a full series).

    The part of Patricia Holm is being cast.

    James Purefoy has said that his Saint is ‘out to make mischief’.


    Thanks for the update SaintMark
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,350
    This could actually be happening then. I'm intrigued.
  • Posts: 267
    I'm definitely interested in this thing. It'd be nice to see the Saint back if they're gonna try to do this right.
  • edited May 2011 Posts: 820
    Well I'm Saint fan too. I got all the collections of The Saint including his Successors Like Ian Ogilvy,Simon Dutton & the Val Kilmer movie but wasn't great but I had to collect it. Well Sir Roger Moore is the best Saint. Noone can play Simon Templer like him. He also play Sherlock Holms & the Series after that The Persuaders oppersite late Tony Curtis. Before his Bond role. He had familer actors & Actress ,Like Late Edward Woodward & Miss Moneypenny Late Lois Maxewell. I do hope this filming July goes. I would to see a new Saint . James Purefoy will do a great & Excellent job I hop. Now what his Saint mobile be?
  • Posts: 7,653
    Do you have the B/W movies too?
  • Hello SaintMark and thank you for spreading the news about the forthcoming TV Show on The Saint as first posted on http://blog.saint.org/2011/04/james-purefoy-as-simon-templar-alias.html

    We're all very excited about The Saint, and for all the latest news please follow @TheSaintClub on Twitter, read http://blog.saint.org/ or join the Saint Club's Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Saint-Club/6631852389
  • Posts: 1,856
    This is very like in '03,'04 when Dr. Who was rebooted. The Fans weren't happy NOW LOOK
  • Posts: 820
    Do you have the B/W movies too?
    If you mean the early Telemovies before the series no. Just from Roger Moore era colour & B&W. I also got his other series The Persuaders & his 7 Bond movies. I hope to his movies like Naked Face & North Sea Highjacked

  • "Then to think Roger Moore was the 4th person to play the Saint"
    Erm, these folks tried the role before Roger...

    Louis Hayward (Saint in New York, 1938)
    Terence de Marney (Radio Saint, 1939 and 40)
    George Sanders (RKO Saint, 1939 and on)
    Leslie Charteris (Life Magazine, 1941)
    Hugh Sinclair (RKO Saint, 1941)
    Edgar Barrier (Radio Saint, 1945)
    Brian Aherne (Radio Saint, 1945)
    Vincent Price (Radio Saint, 1947 and on)
    Barry Sullivan (Radio Saint, 1950)
    Tom Conway (Radio Saint, 1951)
    Larry Dobkin (Radio Saint, 1951)
    Tom Meehan (Springbok Radio, 1953 to 1957)
    Felix Marten (French Saint no. 1)

    Ian
  • Posts: 7,653
    "Then to think Roger Moore was the 4th person to play the Saint"
    Erm, these folks tried the role before Roger...

    Louis Hayward (Saint in New York, 1938)
    Terence de Marney (Radio Saint, 1939 and 40)
    George Sanders (RKO Saint, 1939 and on)
    Leslie Charteris (Life Magazine, 1941)
    Hugh Sinclair (RKO Saint, 1941)
    Edgar Barrier (Radio Saint, 1945)
    Brian Aherne (Radio Saint, 1945)
    Vincent Price (Radio Saint, 1947 and on)
    Barry Sullivan (Radio Saint, 1950)
    Tom Conway (Radio Saint, 1951)
    Larry Dobkin (Radio Saint, 1951)
    Tom Meehan (Springbok Radio, 1953 to 1957)
    Felix Marten (French Saint no. 1)
    Ian
    Well Ian, I was counting only the Saintly performances on the big screen that came before the small screen. And have yet to see the French version of the Saint as played twice by Felix Marten.
    As for Leslie Charteris...........
  • Posts: 15
    This could be really good, I do quite like the original The Saint series and James Purefoy so for me could be a series to watch out for
  • Posts: 267
    I was hoping Netflix had Roger Moore's "The Saint", but they only had certain episodes. I used to watch these when they came on the Sleuth channel and have been trying to track them down. I can't believe these are so hard to find on DVD - Amazon has all the color ones, but the only b/w set is one that only works on Region 2 DVD players.

    I hope with the new movie coming out it becomes easier to find older Saint DVDs.
  • Posts: 7,653
    I was hoping Netflix had Roger Moore's "The Saint", but they only had certain episodes. I used to watch these when they came on the Sleuth channel and have been trying to track them down. I can't believe these are so hard to find on DVD - Amazon has all the color ones, but the only b/w set is one that only works on Region 2 DVD players.

    I hope with the new movie coming out it becomes easier to find older Saint DVDs.
    You can always go for the Australian dvd's which are region free. And they have the Roger Moore, Ian Ogilvy and Simon Dutton series complete.

  • edited June 2011 Posts: 820
    Well I June now. They said the Filming will start in July next month. I usally get a newsletter from the Saint Web. Nothing the latest. But I give the offical Saint web.

    ">http:www.saint.org
  • edited December 2012 Posts: 820
    Well it on again this time The new Saint Series started Filming. So I happy with that. Adam Rayner is the New Saint Simon Templer With his Saint Beauty Eliza Dushku. The be more photo of the shooting the series. So look the saint Web. So 16 years of hope & Waiting is over.
  • Well I am just glad Templar is returning. I believe it to be worth the wait. By the way....I think Vincent Price was the best radio Saint.
  • Posts: 7,653
    Well I am just glad Templar is returning. I believe it to be worth the wait. By the way....I think Vincent Price was the best radio Saint.
    Well there are two 10 cd releases with the man "The Saint is heard" & "The Saint solves the case". I have the first one with the second one on the way and they cleaned the first one up pretty good. And they are mostly Vincent Price.

    And yes currently the news on the new show is non-existend for some reason even if Purefoy did a few interviews due to his new tv-show Injustice and kept mentioning the his part as the Saint.
    I wish they started filming.
  • Posts: 7,653
    Adam Rayner Lands Lead In ‘The Saint’ Remake From Jesse Alexander, Simon West

    EXCLUSIVE: Exactly fifty years after the premiere of the British spy series The Saint, a remake is picking up steam with a pilot directed by Simon West. British actor Adam Rayner has been cast in the title role made famous by Roger Moore in the original series. The remake, produced by Brad Krevoy, is not set at a network yet. Written/executive produced by Jesse Alexander (Heroes), it is slated to begin shooting a pilot later this month. In the project, debonair international thief Simon Templar (Rayner), a modern day Robin Hood, steals from rich criminals and keeps the loot for himself. A master of disguise, improvisation, martial arts, firearms and espionage and the quintessential English gentleman, he is hired by certain government agencies for special assignments. The completed pilot is expected to be shopped to networks.

    Rayner was last seen co-starring opposite Melissa George on the first season of the Cinemax/BBC spy drama Hunted, created by Frank Spotniz. He is repped by ICA Talent, IALA, Jamie Feldman in the US and Maxine Hoffman and Lara Beach in the UK. This is not the first stab at remaking The Saint on the small sceen. Four years ago, Moore was attached to produce a TV movie/backdoor pilot. Producers Barry Levinson, Tom Fontana, Bill MacDonald and writer Jorge Zamacona were behind the project, which had James Purefoy attached as the lead but ultimately didn’t get off the ground. Val Kilmer played Templar in the 1997 feature remake.

    It seems that the character that put the suave in James Bond the movie character gets a new lease on life. WHich is about bloody time I would say.
    :!!
  • Posts: 3,333
    Sounds promising. I just hope they keep the little stick man, the halo and the original music - otherwise it might not feel too much like The Saint... a bit like that one starring Simon Dutton in 1989. Fingers crossed this turns out well.
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited December 2012 Posts: 4,416
    Let's hope that this be enough for Lime Light Pictures to release season 3 and season 4.

    But the information from above and the actor for lead sound not enough English too me, more like Burn Notice what mabey not be a bad thing but not under the name The Saint .

    Mabey it wil work if there let do David Arnold the openings theme, Roger Moore ask to be on the set as producer and as inprovement on Bond there should filming on locations like The Netherlands, Belgium, Romania or middle east country other then Turkey. Also it wil be nice if Timothy Dalton, Lazenby and Pierce Brosnan get a cameo in episode.
  • SandySandy Somewhere in Europe
    Posts: 4,012
    Great news, I just love The Saint. I can hear the song playing inside my head right now.
  • Posts: 7,653
    M_Balje wrote:
    Let's hope that this be enough for Lime Light Pictures to release season 3 and season 4.

    But the information from above and the actor for lead sound not enough English too me, more like Burn Notice what mabey not be a bad thing but not under the name The Saint .

    Mabey it wil work if there let do David Arnold the openings theme, Roger Moore ask to be on the set as producer and as inprovement on Bond there should filming on locations like The Netherlands, Belgium, Romania or middle east country other then Turkey. Also it wil be nice if Timothy Dalton, Lazenby and Pierce Brosnan get a cameo in episode.

    NO F*cking DA L-) or his music near the Saint, the darn hack.

  • St_GeorgeSt_George Shuttling Drax's lovelies to the space doughnut - happy 40th, MR!
    Posts: 1,699
    SaintMark wrote:
    debonair international thief Simon Templar (Rayner), a modern day Robin Hood, steals from rich criminals and keeps the loot for himself

    How on earth is he a 'modern Robin Hood' if he keeps the money himself? Stupid, self-contradictory press releases; they're seemingly all knocked off by hacks... :))
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