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‘Magnum’ film could
be out in summer 2006

"Magnum, P.I.: The Movie" may begin production here as early as August 2005 for a possible summer 2006 release, said Brett Johnson, Universal VP/ production. Johnson describes the long-awaited feature as "a very big movie" in terms of production value, budget and action.

Michael McCullers is writing the second draft of his screenplay, which Johnson says is similar to the original TV series' pilot. It's expected to be done before year's end. The story includes, of course, title character Thomas Magnum (who still drives a red Ferrari and lives at Robin's Nest) and his buddies, Jonathan Quayle Higgins III, Theodore "TC" Calvin, and Orville "Rick" Wright, and "a lot of interaction with the military," Johnson says. No director or actors are attached yet.

The movie will be completely filmed in Hawaii, with a considerable amount of water work.

McCullers, who wrote "Thunderbirds" (2004), "Austin Powers in Goldmember" (2002), "Undercover Brother" (2002), and "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" (1999), toured Oahu sites earlier this year and met with water safety expert Brian Keaulana.

Still no decision by Imagine Entertainment or Universal if Tom Selleck will make an appearance ...

"29 Down," a Discovery Kids' Saturday mornings TV series for NBC starring Halle Hirsh, likely will begin filming here Jan. 5 until the end of March. Locations for the castaway drama will likely be from Mokuleia to Waimea Falls.

A three-story renovated apartment building in Waialua is being considered for production offices, as well as the teenage actors' accommodations ...

A&E's "Dog: The Bounty Hunter," starring Duane "Dog" Chapman, is pulling in an astonishing 2.1 million viewers a week on Tuesdays ...

Talk Around Town: New Line's "Rush Hour 3" with Jackie Chan could begin filming in Japan, Hong Kong and Hawaii early next year ... John Stockwell's "Rocky Point" series for The WB is not dead, as some have said. The network's decision is expected in mid-January ... Producers of ABC/Touchstone's "That's So Raven" reportedly are considering filming a pilot here this spring for a 26-episode series ...