The Sweeney was a British TV series which ran in the late 1970s. It starred John Thaw as Jack Regan, and Dennis Waterman as George Carter, both of whom were members of the Flying Squad in London, a branch of the Metropolitan police dedicated to catching armed robbers and violent criminals.
It’s regarded as one of the best shows from that era, and was so successful that there were two films made. And now there’s rumored to be a remake on the way, although whether it’ll be set in the 1970s or the present day isn’t yet clear.
According to the News Of The World, while Ray Winstone is a shoe-in to play Regan, four of the biggest British actors are vying for the role of Carter. Daniel Craig, Ewan McGregor, Orlando Bloom, and Tom Hardy are thought to be on the shortlist.
A source reportedly said:
“All four are keen on the role but whoever ends up doing it will change the movie’s tone. Ray’s going to be great as Regan but the chemistry between him and Carter needs to be right.”
“The success of Life On Mars shows there’s a huge appetite for Seventies cop dramas. With the right cast The Sweeney could be even bigger.”
A new version of The Sweeney could work, although I’d suggest it needs to be set in the 1970s rather than present day. As for the best choice? All four are strong contenders but Tom Hardy would be my choice. After he’s brought Mad Max back to life, obviously.
