'Thief' Redo Steals Smith's Heart

Zap2It.com | March 22, 2006

Will Smith

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Will Smith hopes his 'It Takes a Thief' redo works out better than 'Wild Wild West'

Because the caper series "It Takes a Thief" hasn't yet been made into a feature film, Universal is moving forward on the project, with Will Smith surfacing as a potential leading man.

The original series aired on ABC from 1968-1970 and starred Robert Wagner as Alexander Mundy, a skilled cat burglar forced by an American espionage agency to perform all variety of undercover robberies for the government.

According to Variety, Smith is now attached to the project, which some time as a potential vehicle for Michael Douglas nearly a decade ago. "Four Brothers" writers David Elliot and Paul Lovett will adapt the series for producers Kevin Misher, John Davis and Joe Singer. In addition, Smith with produce along with James Lassiter through their Overbrook Entertainment shingle.

This will be Smith's first attempt to start a TV-to-film franchise since the 1999 summer dud "Wild Wild West." The "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" star was most recently seen in "Hitch," though he has "The Pursuit of Happyness" in the can and "Tonight, He Comes" ready to go into production this summer.