Ryan Reynolds to Remake Classic 1970s Crime Film for Amazon MGM

Ryan Reynolds is set to star in and produce a remake of the 1974 action-comedy classic Thunderbolt & Lightfoot, teaming up with Amazon MGM for the project.

The original film, which starred Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges, followed a bank robber and a street thief as they hatch a risky plan involving an old gang. Jeff Bridges earned an Oscar nomination for his role, and the movie marked Michael Cimino’s directorial debut before he went on to win a Best Director Oscar for The Deer Hunter.

Reynolds is collaborating with writers Enzo Mileti and Scott Wilson, according to THR, known for their work on season four of Fargo, to develop the script. Shane Reid, who previously edited Reynolds’ Deadpool films and Wolverine, is set to make his directorial debut with the remake. Reynolds will also produce through his Maximum Effort banner.

The story revolves around the dynamic between two lead characters, making it a potential two-hander that could spark rumors of a Reynolds-Hugh Jackman reunion. Mileti and Wilson also have experience on crime-focused series like FX’s Snowfall and the MMA drama The Kingdom.

In addition to this remake, Reynolds recently signed on to play the villain in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Eloise and is producing a documentary about John Candy titled John Candy: I Like Me, which streams on Amazon.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!