Fletch Reboot - What We Know So Far

Chevy Chase was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s, with a string of hits to his name like "Caddyshack," "Spies Like Us," and "Fletch." With wise-cracking characters and a healthy dose of ridiculousness, it's easy to see why Chase's films struck a chord with audiences. For the 21st century, it only makes sense to mix things up, and viewers will soon be able to enjoy a very different take on one of Chase's classic roles. 

Many people are familiar with Irwin M. Fletcher, a.k.a. Fletch, an undercover reporter promised a ton of money on the condition that he kill a millionaire. The catch is that the millionaire is the one offering the money. Fletch uncovers there's more to this story than meets the eye through a series of mishaps and misadventures. Now, over 30 years after the sequel, "Fletch Lives," the eponymous character receives even more time in the sun thanks to a recently announced reboot, starring Jon Hamm in the lead role this time around. Based on what we know so far, the reboot won't just retell the same story found with 1985's "Fletch," so here's what you can expect. 

Another "Fletch" movie has been in development for over 30 years now. Various projects have had false starts over the years, with Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, and Zach Braff all attached at various points to lead the picture (via Vulture). All of these reboots fell apart for various reasons, but the next installment picked up in recent years with Greg Mottola ("Superbad") attached to direct a script written by Zev Borow ("Kansas City"). 

Mottola even took to Twitter to announce the "Fletch" reboot would begin shooting in late June 2021. The status came with a picture of the script, and it looks like the next film in the franchise will have the title of "Confess, Fletch." There's no release date announced for the movie yet, but fans have waited 30 years for this movie. They can wait another year or two for the film to come out in theaters.

In the summer of 2020, Variety reported that Jon Hamm would portray the titular character in the "Fletch" reboot. The article includes a quote from producer Connie Tavel, who mentions, "I really believe that this will be an exciting and modern reimagining of this beloved character." From what everything else reports, it sounds as though "Confess, Fletch" will not have as many comedic elements as the first couple of movies. Still, seeing as Hamm has plenty of experience in the comedic realm in films like "Bridesmaids" and "Tag," we wouldn't feel surprised if he still lets off a few zingers. 

The studio hasn't revealed who else will join Hamm in his next adventure, but all good things come with time. When asked who would portray Flynn in the reboot, director Greg Mottola explained on Twitter, "For boring legal reasons we had to change Flynn (because of spin-off books), but I can tell you who is playing Inspector-Sergeant Morris Monroe soon." Monroe appears to be a new character, so keep checking back for more details as they become available. 

The "Fletch" reboot will not be a shot-for-shot remake of either movie in the franchise to come before. Instead, the film will reportedly adapt elements of the second novel in the series, which borrows more heavily from noir topics than strictly comedic ones. A plot synopsis from The Wrap goes as follows: "In a mysterious chain of wild events, Fletch finds himself in the middle of multiple murders — one of which pins him as a prime suspect. While on a quest to prove his innocence, Fletch is tasked with finding his fiancée's stolen art collection, the only inheritance she's acquired after her father goes missing and is presumed dead."

A common element of the first two "Fletch" movies starring Chevy Chase involves the titular character donning various disguises as he attempts to get to the bottom of crimes. There's no word if the reboot will utilize this concept or if it'll steer clear. Since it'll likely be a while until "Confess, Fletch" makes it to the big screen, there's plenty of time for details to come to light.