Posted by Johnboy at proxy.iwerks.com on February 10, 2000 at 19:50:32:
Below is a post originally intended for the last Board, under the Chevy Chase / Fletch discussion.
For those that don't make it to News Askew much, here's some info from the News Askew site. Kudos to Brad and Chris for keeping this stuff and remembering about it.
The original Chevy Chase / Fletch post can be found at http://www.viewaskew.com/newboard/messages142/536.html
----------------------------
News Askew:
Yet AGAIN, Chevy Chase decided he wanted to complain about the Fletch 3 script that fizzled and blame Kevin. This guy sure knows how to make enemies and look like a real jerk. Here's his comments, from a new interview that appeared in The Vancouver Province yesterday:
...
Chase gets visibly annoyed when he discusses his failed attempts to resurect Fletch.
"I have a great Fletch idea but I got screwed by Kevin Smith, this guy I don't even know, I had lunch with him once," rants Chase, "I was told he grew up on Fletch, thought it was the best thing he ever saw."
"He'd just done this movie, Chasing Amy, so I said 'Do you really want to write and direct one?' and he said 'Yes, I do. Give me a year.' So I have him a year. At the end of the year, I heard from the producer; he needs another year. Gave him another year. At the end of the second year, I heard from the producer, 'Kevin doesn't want to do it.' Two to three years I waited for this guy who has never sent me a note, a postcard, called me or anything. That's a lot of time lost when you're my age and you want to do a Fletch picture. I find it surprising and rude and way off the beat, particularily for a young director."
For the record, Kevin explained this whole situation close to a year ago to put it to rest (we thought). Here's that post, from our own News Askew archives:
May 12, 1999
Ah, Chevy. I knew you were a back-biter. Here's my history of the 'Fletch' project.
1) I meet with Universal after 'Amy'. They as if I want to do anything with them. I say that they've got 'Fletch' and I'd write a 'Fletch' flick for them, if they wanted (not only did I dig the first flick, but I was a huge fan of the series of books by Gregory McDonald). They said "Hmmmmm..." Then they said "Who do you see as Fletch?" I looked at them blankly, then said "Chevy Chase, of course." They said "Isn't he too old?" Then I said "No - he's the man when it comes to Fletch. You can't make a Fletch flick without him."
2) I'm sent to meet with Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment to discuss project further. He comes on as Producer. We meet with Alan Greisman (sp?) who was a producer on the original 'Fletch' flicks. He says Chevy is excited, and I should meet him and grab lunch, etc.
3) I meet Chevy Chase who - over the course of an hour lunch - procedes to take credit for anything funny that ever happened on the planet. Ever. He tells me the whole flick was ad-libbed, and that that's how he'd like to do the next one. I tell him that I'm all about the script. He nods politely, as I'm a neophyte in this biz. I mention that we're doing a flick called 'Dogma', and ask him if he'd want to come down and do a day or two (as Glick; I'd wanted Carlin, but his manager passed on the script; George and his manager later changed their minds). He says "Send me the script." I do (he calls the office twice to ask about the 'Fletch' script; 'Dogma' is never mentioned again).
4) I get bogged down doing 'Dogma' and twenty other things. My agent asks if I'll ever get to 'Fletch'. I say "Yes, but in about a year and a half; after all this 'Dogma' stuff." He says that Uni and Grazer are only as high on the project as I am (they're not really interested in being in the Chevy Chase business anymore), so if I'm not passionate about it right now, we should let it go. I take the advice of counsel, and the project goes away.
That's it. There was only going to be another 'Fletch' flick because I brought it up during a meeting with Universal. They were only considering Chevy Chase because I was fighting for him (even told them there'd be no point in doing the flick without Chase). I wanted to call it 'Son of Fletch', and cast Joey as his daughter. Lee was going to play her beau. I wanted to get Goldie Hawn for a cameo. But things got too hectic, and something had to give. 'Fletch' gave.
Now, the assertion that Chevy had to find out about it too late from a friend is assinine. The studio knew a year ago. I'm sure someone passed the message onto him way earlier than he lets on in the Post piece. But if he'd rather think I let him down, that's cool. Hell - he's let me down dozens of times ('European Vacation', 'Christmas Vacation', 'Vegas Vacation', 'Cops and Robertsons', 'Oh Heavenly Dog', that Jonathan Taylor Thomas picture, etc.).
When all was said and done, at least I got to meet Chevy Chase, I used to think. Now I'm sort of regretting it.