‘Boondock Saints’ TV Series In The Work

Boondock Saints is the prototypical cult hit. Troy Duffy’s film about two Irish brothers on a vigilante crusade through Boston opened on only five screens throughout the U.S., but it found new life on the home video market, eventually earning upwards of $50 million and a sequel: The Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day.

Fans of the series have been clamoring for a threequel ever since the cliffhanger ending of the sequel.Rumors of a third film and television series have been floating around the internet since the sequel’s release, and Duffy has stated numerous times that he’s not done with the characters. Now, thanks to IM Global Television, television branch of the global film production and distribution company IM Global, Duffy has an opportunity to return to the series.

IM Global Television has acquired the rights to The Boondock Saints with the intent to develop a television show based on the property. Troy Duffy will write the potential series as well as directing the pilot, and serving as executive producer. Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flannery, stars of the films, are in early talks to join Duffy as co-executive producers. The series is envisioned as a prequel to the films and Duffy has written the first episode along with outlines for the series.

“For years I’ve been obsessed with telling a real origin story with Boondock, and IM Global TV has stepped up,” said Duffy. “Television is the perfect medium to explore these controversial characters on a much deeper level and to bring Boondock Saints to a whole new audience.”

To date, the two Boondock Saints movies are Duffy’s only films. The bartender-turned-director rose to prominence suddenly with the script for The Boondock Saints, but stalled just as suddenly after a disagreement with Miramax. It took ten years and a lawsuit for his sequel to finally be made. Duffy’s tenacity has kept the series alive and seems to have paid off with this new deal.

The series has proven just as tenacious as its creator. Over the last fifteen years, the series has earned over $260 million worldwide, thanks especially to DVD sales. Despite this strong showing, Duffy hasn’t had much success getting his work financed. While the second film sets up a third movie in the series, it’s been five years without much news or progress. Duffy has the story and title ready for the third film – though there’s no word on when filming might take place.

The Boondocks Saints films have proven financially successful, but both were almost universally panned by critics. Duffy is the spirit of the series, but the spirit won’t be enough to satisfy television audiences for long.  The hunt for a showrunner is still in progress and it will inevitably fall to the chosen candidate to guide the series toward more respectable critical numbers. Hopefully a firm hand from the showrunner will be enough keep the series viable.

And if that isn’t enough, maybe a cameo from Willem Dafoe is in order.

The untitled Boondock Saints television series is in development with no release date.