Carnahan In!

In January this year, things finally did seem to be coming together – though you’ll excuse us if we don’t believe it until someone calls action and the cameras start rolling.

But Fox, desperate to patch up work on the film and meet that 2010 deadline, moved quickly to find a replacement director.

What they actually got was a whole team, comprised of unexpected players.

With Stephen Cannell clinging on for dear life as one of the producers, Ridley and Tony Scott stepped up to help out, with Scott Free productions backing the project.

"Tony and I feel that marrying this Scott Free project with Joe’s sensibility will result in a fast-paced, exciting franchise, one we hope will be around for years to come," Sir Rid told Variety.

And just who would swing the megaphone? Narc/Smokin’ Aces director Joe Carnahan.

"This was a coveted property, and reimagining a show that I remembered as a kid was tough to turn down," Carnahan told the trade mag. "Fox hired me to make it as emotional, real and accessible as possible without cheesing it up.”

According to the new director, the plan is to switch the team’s back-story to soldiers in the first Gulf War, which will allow for younger thesps and more relevance, apparently.

"You can make a film that reflects on the real world without losing the great sense of fun and the velocity of action in a classic summer popcorn film.”

Oh, and the script’s been through yet more changes. X-Men Origins: Wolverine contributor Skip Woods wrote a draft, but Carnahan and Smokin’ Aces actor Brian Bloom have since polished it.

And, with a director in place, the cast could once more start to assemble. Hopefully this time, the choices will stick…

Next: We love it when a cast comes together