OK, folks, let’s keep this one firmly in the “rumor” category for a moment, but AintItCool is running a story today where a source claims that the recently announced Clint Eastwood film Gran Torino will actually be a new, and presumably final, installment of the actor’s famous Dirty Harry franchise!
Here’s what AICN’s source had to say-
I recently advertised my 1974 ford grand torino classic original for sale in the local here, and within 24 hours had someone from Village Roadshow Pictures interested in having a look at it. He came. He wasn’t interested for numerous reasons (probably the modifications). He told me they were looking for the right car for a new Clint Eastwood movie.
He said it was a thriller about a killer that drives a certain torino. His 1972 Ford Gran Torino is the only thing the police have on him. A retired police lieutenant, one Harry Callahan, makes it his mission to track down the culprit when two young police officers, one Callahan’s grandson, are shot and killed by the guy.
Well, given that it is from some guy who claims he was trying to sell his car to an overly chatty studio lackey, it certainly sounds interesting. I only have one question about the plot synopsis. It’s been a while since I’ve seen any of the Dirty Harry movies, but I don’t recall Eastwood’s Harry Callahan having any immediate family, either a wife, an ex-wife or a child in or out of wedlock.
Eastwood’s “Dirty” Harry Callahan has been absent from screens for two decades, last appearing in 1988’s The Dead Pool, though there have been sequel rumors that would make the rounds every couple of years. Given that Sly Stallone has successfully revisited both his Rocky and Rambo franchises in the past few years and Harrison Ford has returned for one last Indiana Jones picture, it is not unbelievable that Warner Brothers would want to try and cash in with a visit to one of their own older franchises. The question remains, though, would Eastwood be up for a final Dirty Harry romp? He seems pretty well settled into his current directorial groove that he may not be inclined to step back out in front of the camera.
