Vin Diesel has plans to headline a feature film adaptation of the hit ’70s crime procedural Kojak, Deadline reports. Set up at Universal, screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (Skyfall) have been brought aboard to provide the screenplay.
The original show, which ran on CBS from 1973 to 1978, starred Telly Savalas as NYPD Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak, known for his penchant for lollipops and his catchphrase, “Who loves ya baby?”
Kojak has never before been brought to the big screen but a short-lived series reboot was attempted in 2005 with Ving Rhames in the Kojak role.
Diesel is also set to produce the feature version alongside Samantha Vincent.
