Ryan Reynolds to Star in Remake of 1970s Crime Classic for Amazon MGM

Ryan Reynolds is teaming up with Amazon MGM to bring a classic 1974 crime film back to life. The movie, Thunderbolt & Lightfoot, originally starred Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges. Reynolds plans to star in the remake and will also produce through his Maximum Effort production company.

He is working on the script with writers Enzo Mileti and Scott Wilson, according to THR, who have previously worked on the fourth season of the comedic crime series Fargo. Shane Reid, who edited Reynolds’ Deadpool and Wolverine films, will direct the project, marking his first time in the director’s chair.

The original Thunderbolt & Lightfoot told the story of Eastwood as a bank robber hiding as a preacher. He is pursued by his old gang, who wrongly believe he betrayed them. He joins forces with Lightfoot, a street thief played by Jeff Bridges, and the two plan a new heist with the gang, but things do not go as expected.

The movie was the directorial debut of Michael Cimino, who later won a Best Director Oscar for The Deer Hunter in 1978. Bridges received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film.

This remake could be a strong opportunity for a two-person lead film. Some fans have speculated that Reynolds might even reunite with Hugh Jackman for the project, something that many have been hoping for. Mileti and Wilson bring experience from shows like FX’s Snowfall and the MMA drama The Kingdom.

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