In November 2011, Robert Downey Jr. announced to “Variety” that he wanted to make a “Perry Mason” movie. Warner Bros jumped on board with the idea.
The movie, “Perry Mason,” will be an adaptation of the original novels by Erle Stanley Gardner. The film envelops the life of a 1930s defense attorney, Perry Mason and will be bringing to life the characters of Della Street, Perry’s secretary and Hamilton Burger, Mason’s nemesis. Downey is speaking of taking on the title role himself.
A former practicing attorney in Boston, Marc Guggenheim, will be on board to write the script.
Guggenheim is no stranger to attorney-type programs. He is one of the scriptwriters behind the show “The Practice” and has written for “Law & Order.” Guggenheim is also a co-creator of the legal dramedy “Eli Stone.”
Guggenheim has made a name for himself, not only scripting for the courtroom-crime dramas but has penned “Green Lantern.” Disney has asked him to write a travel picture, “Time Zones” and he is currently working on the pilot for a series called “ArrowGreen” that will air on the CW network. Fox’s new legal drama, “Guilty,” will have Guggenheim’s name on it as well.
The new “Perry Mason” will be in Los Angeles in the 1930s, as in the novels. The books were a huge success. The TV series starred Raymond Burr and had a long run from 1957 to 1966.
Downey is known for his wise guy attitude in films and will fit the role of Mason well. Mason was known as a criminal defense attorney who always seemed to break the rules enough to find the guilty party in any case.
No word yet on the release date. Updates will be reported as they come in.
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