Skydance has acquired the rights to Mike Hammer, the classic hardboiled mystery detective book series created by author Mickey Spillane, with plans to develop a new feature film adaptation.
First appearing in Spillane’s 1947 novel I, the Jury, Mike Hammer is brutal, no-nonsense private eye who is credited with inspiring a host of iconic characters including James Bond, Dirty Harry and Jack Reacher. Over 250 million Mike Hammer books have been sold around the world and the series continues to this day under Spillane’s friend and later co-author Max Allan Collins.
Skydance’s deal includes the rights to dozens of Mike Hammer tales, and the company is teaming with Entertainment 360 to develop a feature film from the material. However, there’s no word yet as to whether any specific stories are being considered, nor are there any writers, directors or talent attached.
Numerous Mike Hammer films have been released over the years, most notably Robert Aldrich’s Kiss Me Deadly in 1955 starring Ralph Meeker and 1982’s I, the Jury from director Richard T. Heffron and starring Armand Assante. Stacy Keach also took on the role of Hammer for several TV movies and series in the 1980s.
Via Deadline
