Paramount Pictures may finally be ready to bring one of television’s most iconic crime dramas to the big screen. Sources say the studio is developing a feature-film adaptation of the classic CBS series Hawaii Five-O, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton attached to lead the project.
Cretton is expected to develop the movie with the intention of directing, while Chris Bremner, known for Bad Boys for Life, and Noah Oppenheim, writer of Jackie, are set to collaborate on the screenplay.
The project was assembled by Entertainment 360’s Guymon Casady in partnership with the estate of Hawaii Five-O creator Leonard Freeman. Casady is also expected to produce. Paramount is the first studio to receive the project, in part because of its longstanding connection to the original series and the successful television reboot that aired on CBS from 2010 to 2020.
The studio has not commented on the project, and the deal is not yet finalized. Still, the early-stage development represents a potentially major opportunity to transform one of television’s most recognizable properties into a modern action franchise.
Created by Leonard Freeman, the original Hawaii Five-O ran on CBS from 1968 to 1980 and starred Jack Lord as Steve McGarrett, the tough, disciplined head of an elite state police task force in Hawaii. The series became famous for its tropical setting, memorable theme music and McGarrett’s signature command, “Book ’em, Danno.”
A successful film adaptation could retain many of those elements while giving the property the scale of a modern theatrical action thriller. Hawaii’s spectacular landscapes would provide a natural cinematic backdrop, while the crime-procedural foundation could give the franchise plenty of room for future installments.
Attempts to bring Hawaii Five-O to theaters have been made before. The late George Litto, who represented Freeman, previously worked on efforts to adapt the series for film, but legal battles involving CBS and complicated rights issues repeatedly stalled those plans. The property ultimately returned to television instead, with CBS launching a successful reboot in 2010 starring Alex O’Loughlin as Steve McGarrett, alongside Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park. That version ran for 10 seasons before ending in 2020.
Cretton’s involvement could give the latest attempt considerable momentum. The filmmaker has quickly established himself as a major force in Hollywood, most recently taking the reins of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. His work on the film has further strengthened the franchise’s position at the box office while showcasing the star power of Tom Holland and Zendaya.
Cretton first attracted widespread attention with the acclaimed independent drama Short Term 12. He later directed The Glass Castle before making the leap into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which became a crowd-pleasing hit.
With Cretton potentially bringing his blockbuster experience to Hawaii Five-O, Paramount could have the ingredients for a fresh take on a beloved property: a proven filmmaker, a recognizable title, an iconic setting and a premise that naturally lends itself to a continuing action franchise.
For now, however, the project remains in development, with Paramount still needing to close the deal. If everything comes together, McGarrett and “Danno” could soon be trading the small screen for the biggest screen of all.
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