"It wasn't me. It was the one-armed man."
– Dr. Richard Kimble, The Fugitive
Warner Bros. is planning an update to THE FUGITIVE, and they've tapped Albert Hughes to direct.
Based on the 1963 TV series that starred David Janssen as Kimble and Barry Morse as Gerard, THE FUGITVE tells the tragic tale of Dr. Richard Kimble, a man unjustly accused of murdering his wife, who must find the real killer while being the target of a nationwide manhunt led by a seasoned U.S. Marshal.
As per Deadline's exclusive report, Hughes' version will place a new spin on the 1993 Andrew Davis-directed version of the story, which starred Harrison Ford as Dr. Kimble and Tommy Lee Jones as U.S. Marshall Samuel Gerard. At the time of its release, Davis' THE FUGITIVE had landed seven Oscar nominations including Best Picture. As a feather in the film's cap, Tommy Lee Jones had walked away from the Oscar event having won the award for Best Supporting Actor.
Oddly enough, another take on THE FUGITIVE is also destined for Jeffrey Katzenberg's Quibi streaming platform. This version will be a short-form take on the tale, and will alter a number of story elements as well. According to Deadline, Quibi’s version will center on a man accused of blowing up an LA subway station with a bomb, with social media playing host to a hotbed of false accusations. Additionally, the social media element will also provide real time updates as the suspect tries to prove his innocence. So yeah, it's quite different. I'd even go so far as to say that it sounds like an entirely different story, but Quibi isn't paying me to think, so whatever. With regard to casting, Boyd Holbrook is expected to play the accused, while Kiefer Sutherland will star as the law enforcement official looking to take the suspect down.
I really hope that you dig the story of THE FUGITIVE, because at least two versions of Dr. Kimble's action-packed story are forthcoming.