Kevin Smith is creating new buzz around “The Green Hornet.”
The filmmaker behind “Chasing Amy,” “Dogma” and the upcoming “Jersey Girl” will write and direct a new film about the masked crimefighter and his martial-arts sidekick, Kato, Miramax Films announced Wednesday.
“Long-time comics geek gets to make comic book movie?” Smith said, speculating about a possible newspaper headline. “This is a dream come true.”
“The Green Hornet” chronicled the adventures of billionaire vigilante Britt Reid as he rode around catching bad guys in a sci-fi car. It was created by Fran Striker and George Trendle, who also worked together to create “The Lone Ranger.”
The story started out as radio serial that launched in 1936 and later became a popular comic book. But it’s probably best remembered as a 1966 TV series with Van Williams as the Hornet and Bruce Lee as Kato.
Smith, who often plays the mum, comic-book loving character Silent Bob in many of his movies, is a real-life comic lover who sold most of his collection to help finance the $27,000 budget of his 1994 black-and-white comedy “Clerks.”
In addition to his film work, Smith has written for the Marvel Comics book “Daredevil” and the DC Comics character “Green Arrow.” He also owns a comic store in Red Bank, N.J.
“Kevin knows more about comic characters, books and the creative process than anyone else I have ever met,” said Miramax co-chief Harvey Weinstein, who approved the project.
Smith promised his “Green Hornet” adaptation would be an “exciting, chop-socky-filled action flick, but it’s gonna have a compelling story, believable characters, and great dialogue to boot! Let’s roll, Kato!”