The Persuaders!
With an adaptation of the TV show The Man From U.N.C.L.E soon hitting the big screen, courtesy of director Guy Ritchie and stars Armie Hammer and Henry Cavill, the time is right for a reboot of the TV show The Persuaders! – which works on a similar light-hearted ‘buddy’ premise. The original version of the show aired in 1971, and starred Roger Moore and Tony Curtis in the lead roles – as British nobleman Lord Brett Sinclair and New Yorker Danny Wilde, respectively.
The mis-matched pair of playboys cross paths in a hotel bar and become embroiled in a brawl. When apprehended, they are taken to Judge Fulton (Laurence Naismith), who gives them the option of helping him rights wrongs, or go to jail. The two agree to help, and gradually develop a grudging respect for one another. The show ran for only one season, but each episode saw the unlikely duo take on a new challenge and a new adventure – all against the backdrop of their prickly relationship.
The ‘buddy’ format is a rare thing in television, with current examples limited to series such as Rizzoli And Isles and Suits. Where once we had Cagney And Lacey, these same-sex pairings have been somewhat usurped by teams (such as the CSI franchise) or mixed pairs that offer the promise of lingering romantic or sexual tension (such as The X Files, Castle, Bones, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent).
The Persuaders! ended its single season run with an episode involving Lord Sinclair (Moore) returning to his motor-racing career, and uncovering a mystery in the process. A reboot of the series would need to involve the same characters played by new actors, but would provide an opportunity for a charming action series involving espionage, intrigue and lots of racing cars.