Back in 1994 James Cameron wrote, directed, and produced what was then the most expensive movie ever made, True Lies; an action/comedy about a computer salesman/family man, named Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Commando), that doubled up as a government spy, and spent his spare time trying to stop his wife having an affair (with a used-car salesman who ironically attracted her by pretending to be a spy); and now, sixteen years later it appears as though a new version of True Lies is being developed.
Despite being the most expensive movie ever made, True Lies made back much more than its budget (just as Cameron’s last two movies; which were also both the most expensive movies ever made at the time of production; Titanic and Avatar, have), and is still extremely well thought of despite its age; remaining a fan favourite and often inviting rumors of a sequel.
But the new version of True Lies isn’t a hugely budgeted sequel to the 1994 hit, or even a feature film; as the proposed next generation of the franchise is a planned primetime TV series that is shortly about to be shopped to the American networks, and is set to be one of the most sought after projects this development season.
There’s no denying that the premise is ripe for the television world; as the idea of a super cool secret agent attempting to appear to be the epitome of average and boring to his family, whilst simultaneously battling to stop terrorist attacks, has all but limitless potential; and can easily go in a number of directions, and introduce a number of new characters; because whilst Tom Arnold (who played Harry’s best friend and co-worker Albert Gibson in the film) be may persuaded to return, Arnold will probably be both too pricy, and too busy with governing California, to make a comeback as agent Tasker.
But unlike the film, and Cameron’s last primetime TV series; the well received Dark Angel (which he made after his ’97 blockbuster Titanic became the highest grossing film ever, just as his last movie; the ’09 released Avatar; did); he will not be writing the series, but serving only as a producer, and leaving Rene Echevarria (who served as a producer on both series of Cameron’s Dark Angel) to complete the writing for the show; which will be produced by Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment, and 20th Century Fox; while he considers his next film project.
