Ryan Reynolds has officially signed on to remake the 1974 action-comedy Thunderbolt & Lightfoot, the cult bank-heist film that starred Clint Eastwood as “Thunderbolt” and Jeff Bridges as “Lightfoot”.
The 49-year-old star will both produce and headline the remake through his Maximum Effort banner, in partnership with Amazon MGM Studios. He’ll work on the script alongside writers Enzo Mileti and Scott Wilson, while editor-turned-director Shane Reid (editor of Deadpool & Wolverine) takes the helm for his feature debut.
The original film – writer-director Michael Cimino’s debut – followed the story of a disguised preacher-bank robber and a youthful thief teaming up for a daring heist. Industry insiders suggest Reynolds is eyeing the project as a sophisticated “two-hander” vehicle, possibly reuniting him with regular co-star Hugh Jackman.
The remake will honour the spirit of the original while updating its tone and themes for a modern audience, blending Reynolds’ signature wit with stylish crime-drama ambitions. The project is in early development but marked as one of Reynolds’ higher-priority ventures.
The remake announcement comes alongside Reynolds’ growing slate which includes a Netflix live-action adaptation of Eloise (where he plays a new villainous role) and ongoing work through Maximum Effort.
While further casting and a production schedule have yet to be revealed, the film already has significant buzz – a remake of a beloved Eastwood-Bridges classic, helmed by one of Hollywood’s most charismatic stars.
Fans of the original will be watching closely. With Reynolds both producing and starring, this remake signals a bold ambition: not just recapturing nostalgia, but creating a fresh, dynamic film that stands on its own.
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