The Rockford Files went of the air in 1980, but Universal is bringing it back, this time to the big screen with Vince Vaughn set to play the lead role.
According to Deadline, David Levien and Brian Koppelman will be writing the film adaptation of the series that started in 1974 on NBC. James Garner stared in the original as the private eye pardoned after spending some time in San Quentin. Vaughn will also be producing along with Victoria Vaughn for their banner Wild West Picture Show Productions.
The original Rockford was created by Roy Huggins and Stephen J. Cannell and saw the star living out of mobile home and talking his way out of trouble. The character wasn't dressed immaculately and wasn't as action set as the other similarly styled shows that were also airing around the same time.
NBC has been trying to restart the TV series but stopped going down that road after it was decided a film version would be done. It's still possible that a TV version will be coming soon if the film does well at the box office.
Vaughn has a few other project lined up including The Internship with Owen Wilson and Neighborhood Watch with Ben Stiller and Jonah Hill. He will also be doing Lay The Favorite with Stephen Frears directing that project.
You can watch the credits from the original series right here if you so desire.
