Mike Hammer is a private detective created by American author Mickey Spillane and since his creation in 1947, he has been featured in several books, comics and various radio, television and film adaptations. Following the death of Spillane in 2006, Max Allan Collins was tasked with completing the unfinished Hammer novels (the latest being Lady, Go Die!). I asked him about the chances of a big screen adaptation featuring the character, and he revealed that we should expect to see Hammer on the big screen very soon.
"There is serious talk going on right now. I would be involved as a consulting producer, most likely. I'd love to write the screenplay, but my credits in that area are pretty much all in the indie field and wouldn't make the grade for a big Hollywood production.
There's a possibility it will be based on one of the collaborative Spillane/Collins novels, Kiss Her Goodbye, which just came out in trade paperback by the way."
2002 Academy Award winning film
Road To Perdition (directed by
Skyfall's Sam Mendes) was based on a graphic novel by Collins and he has since continued the story. While there have been rumblings of a big screen sequel to the movie in the past, the writer assures us that they're still working on a follow-up and hints that we should expect to hear something definite soon.
"Still in the works. I've done a screenplay and we have been close many, many times. We are looking at two serious offers right now."
To read my interview with Max Allen Collins (where he discusses
Lady, Go Die!, his other upcoming work and looks back on the
Road To Perdition movie) click
HERE. Which of these movies are you most looking forward to seeing? Feel free to sound off with your thoughts on this news in the usual place.