Spielberg plots Bullitt sequel, batteries for OG dune buggy, Andretti's F1 engine supplier

[Hagerty]

Intake: A new Bullitt is in the chamber and will be directed by Steven Spielberg, reports . The publication says it won't simply be a remake of the 1968 original, but instead will be a new story centering on San Francisco cop Frank Bullitt.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/the-manifold/2022-02-28/

[Valvefloat]

Spielberg's Duel provides no confidence that he'll do a good job with the chase scenes in this Bullitt remake. The premise of a car not being able to outrun a semi was ludicrous.

[Studenorton]

Why ever in the world would we suspect that a lot of CGI will be involved?

[miata93]

I recall Dennis Weaver's car being a slant six with the oil light flashing. The semi-trailer was a tanker that was empty.

[Tinkerah]

Everyone who's had one knows a slant six will run just fine without oil for about a month, plenty of time to lose the truck before it throws #6.

[Oldroad1]

Solid lifter cam is a big plus with no oil pressure too.

[DUB6]

So, both the car and the truck had no oil?

(get it?  the tanker was empty?)

😄

Okay, okay, lame.  I'll try to do better.

[Tinkerah]

We're in the minority but I stand firm in agreement.

[N8KFE]

Have you ever driven a slant 6? Reliable absolutely, fast ahh no. An In that vintage it was most likely an 198 c.i. on the 225 c.i. powerhouse that came later.

[PRScott]

Funny to see the words slant six and powerhouse in the same sentence

[PRScott]

It was a clapped out Dodge. It couldn't out run an electric wheelchair!

[BA4]

I believe you missed the point of the movie. Being a commercial hazmat tanker driver I have a different perspective. I try to be courteous and stay in the designated truck lanes. It amazes me how many people have the need to be in front of me only to slow down. The movie was about a truck driver tired of an inconsiderate driver.

Bullitt - it’s a sequel, not a remake. Big difference. I do have a 2009 Bullitt so I may be biased on that one.

[ttammag]

I can only hope that this new movie will be based in the 1968 timeline and not some modern, reimaged farce, that is only intended to be a money grab to attract a Gen Z audience.

[JBBearcat]

Hope the Bullitt film is better written (acted and directed) than the screenwriter's First Man.
That film had Neil Armstrong come across as if he were mentally challenged.

But Bullitt is an icon because of the melding of McQueen's cool, the setting and to a lesser extent, the car.
Who in Hollywood today is as cool as McQueen?
I can't think of anyone. Hopefully not Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, or the other guys who populate today's CGI/effects heavy chase films.

[JGeske]

I could potentially see Chris Pine playing a character similar to the original McQueen character. Karl Urban would be another interesting pick. Sadly, Paul Walker is not meant to be.

[petersalt]

Patrick Dempsey is photogenic and reputed to know a bit about auto driving.

[Islander]

Yeah, those were the days, that was a perfect storm, the heyday of Detroit muscle, SF in that era, and Mr. Cool doing the chase.
Recall Robert Duvall in a bit part as a cabbie and the high-tech of sending an image over a land line.
Good luck with this project

[Oldroad1]

McQueen's Mustang was way over powered by the Dodge. The Dodge had to reduce speed on all the stunts to make it look like the Mustang's 390 could keep up with it. The producers should have optioned for a 428 SCJ and Detroit locker 9in differential, remember the famous one wheel peel footage going up the hill? That option may have been to expensive for the stunt budget. They did modify the 390 with a better cam but it wasn't enough for the Charger's 440.

[petersalt]

OG movie shouldn't have used the mega-weighted 390 Mustang. Should have used a period Shelby GT350 in civilian paint; the Shelby's street handling would have enabled 'watch my taillights' moves in the SF chase.

[Oldroad1]

The period GT350 would not have been a good choice as the 390 had about 30 more horse power than the 302. The Dodge was about 375 to the 390's 325. A 428 SCJ would have been a good match for the Dodge.

[DUB6]

So, let me get this: you're saying that Detective Frank Bullitt went out one day to buy a car, and, thought to himself, "I may one day have to chase down a way overpowered Dodge, driven by a professional stunt driver - I'd better (on my limited salary) special order a vastly higher-priced vehicle than this beat-up used K-code Mustang here on this lot".  Izzat what you're sayin' @Oldroad1 ?  😁

[Oldroad1]

So, Steve read the script and said to Mr. Producer, "Frank is going to be chasing a way over powered Dodge Charger and I believe for the sake of scene action and sound quality Frank's car should have an effective answer to Bill Hickman's way over powered Dodge." "I don't think the movie viewing audience will question Frank's limited salary Mr. Producer."

[audiobycarmine]

How true!
Not to forget the absolutely gorgeous Ms. Bisset.

[DUB6]

Yeah, they can easily find another Mustang.  And a Charger.  Maybe even a decent Mr. Cool (Chris Pine? - nah - keep looking).  But another Ms. Bisset?  Not a chance.

[TimK]

With Steve McQueen's family involved I would believe a Bullitt Mustang would be used since Chad McQueen was involved in the release of the last Bullitt Mustang. The other criteria I would have whether I watch the movie is who is going to play Bullitt. I hope it isn't one of the pretty boys like Tom Cruise or other flakes Hollywood seems to promote. Call me an old fuddy-duddy, old fool or just plain jerk, I don't care. Casting is why I will not watch Ford vs Ferrari. Matt Damon is too pretty to be a credible rugged true man like Carroll Shelby.

[Tinkerah]

Watch Ford vs. Ferrari in spite of yourself. The characters, dialogue, footage and sounds make it a great experience. And if Matt Damon is (still?) that pretty, maybe your wife will watch it with you 🙂

[DUB6]

It's funny, but I seem to recall that ol' Carroll wasn't all that ugly in his younger days.  I'm maybe not the best person to judge how pretty a guy is (or was), but if people think that Matt Damon was supposed to look like Shelby did the last few years before he died, they need to go back and look at some old photos from the late '60s!

[JSievers]

Adam Driver as Frank Bullitt.

[MeJ]

You know...That actually works.

[drhino]

Tried to think of an actor that also races— Patrick Dempsey as Bullitt? (It should actually be Bullitt’s kid; unless it is set in the 70’s or so.)

No CGI!!! Real Driving!

[Reinhold_Weege]

I can only vaguely remember Bullitt's plot, but I think it was about off'ing someone supposed to testify about the mob (as was the plot of about 70% of TV/Movies of the era). Unless they set this in 1968, it's just not going to work and with Spielberg at the helm, I expect more Jurassic Park and less gritty, neo-noir.

[mvillmer]

I recall watching Duel on TV as a kid in England and it scared me to death! Need to watch that again.

[Gary_Bechtold]

The last thing we need is a Bullitt sequel. Too many years have come and gone. What they will likely do is the soft reboot which is a way of basically giving you the same movie but "different". No need to call this Bullitt it has nothing to do with it. Come up with an original character and idea Hollywood. My faith in Spielberg is toast, his remake of West Side Story and a few other movies he has done lately says he has run out of ideas just like most of hollywood.

[audiobycarmine]

I fully agree about remakes/"reboots". Give me the original every time.
How many Spiderman introductions do we need?
A sequel is different — think "Godfather Part 2", (although most of it was already in the original Puzo book.)
With the right storyline, it could work.

[hyperv6]

To me this is a movie that should not be redone. Like a remake of Smokey and  the Bandit. 

But if it is Daniel Craig is no longer Bond and he can do an American accent very well. 

[JBBearcat]

Not if Craig's accent in "Knives Out" is any indication!

[Grace]

great movie. baddddd accent.

[ThePorscheMan]

His accent in KO was hilarious; made the friggin' movie.

[Maestro1]

Once again Hollywood shows it is out of imagination and originality.

[Timbo]

Don't forget that Spielberg also did the remake of West Side Story and it flopped. Leave the classics alone.

[Camarojoe]

Duel was a great when I was 12. The old Slant six would have walked away from that semi... but it was wounded. My guess is the "hot" car will be a Lucid or a Tesla. That way they can sneak up on the bad guys in the Hellcat Charger!

[MustangJim]

I am probably in the minority here but Bullit was a great movie...honor it by retireing it. Like a great baseball players number. No need to re make Bullit. Do something new.

[TG]

I have often theorized that there are only so many combinations of notes that can be combined together into something that isn't ear-splitting, and only so many plot lines available for books, TV shows, movies, etc. With the way we crank out entertainment media like a puppy mill, we probably blew past that line a long time ago. What I see in 'new' movies convinces me more of that every day

[Iso_Grifo]

Spielberg is running on empty these days.

[77GL]

Baby Boomers are going down as unimaginative relying on remakes of 50 year old cars and movies. When your best ideas are 50 years old and created by someone else, I think it's safe to say you are out of ideas.

[Grace]

they better not find out about all our live-action disney remakes, then...

[DUB6]

I find it hard to believe that the only decent idea for a movie is to rehash something made 50 years ago (although I'll admit that I did like the new "A Star Is Born").  I mean, look around - there are so many interesting things going on in the world today that it should be fairly easy to find a new story to make into a film.

[Oldroad1]

Product placement has to be a Mustang. The story, 2 years later Frank has a new Mustang. A 70 factory optioned 427 fastback. Frank's nemesis, a Plymouth Hemi Cuda. What happens next? One's imagination is the speed limit.

[DUB6]

   I'm going to fall in with the folks here who say "nay" to any type of new Bullitt film.  In the car-nut world, it's a classic movie and has everything it has needed to stay at icon status for all these years.  What could possibly be left to add?  Sure, there were some cheesy parts (like the VW and the hubcaps), and sure, there we some pretty implausible technical faults...but the darned movie entertained and enthralled, and still does.  Leave. It. Alone.

   Now, an EV Meyers Manx does kind of intrigue me.  I'm kinda wantin' to see that particular continuation made!

   Will Andretti find success with Renault in F-1?  Anyone's guess, but it seems a stretch to me.

   And what can you say about Dubai and its supercar fervor?  Unlimited cash will foster unlimited silliness most of the time, is what I think...

   One of the most fully engrossing and thought-provoking Manifold articles in quite some time, IMO, as I was interested in each and every topic!  👍

[merlebalke]

A new Bullitt directed by one of our greatest living directors? I'm all the way in.

I would remind those disparaging his new West Side Story that it's Oscar nominated for best picture and received rave reviews.